Cost of Living Comparison Between Abbottabad and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Abbottabad and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $307 per month in Abbottabad vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $489 per month in Abbottabad vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $671 per month in Abbottabad vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.

Abbottabad is about 42% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Abbottabad and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Abbottabad 77% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 PKR 500

$2.89 PKR 804

-37.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.27 PKR 3,412

$14.01 PKR 3,894

-12.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 PKR 1,459

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-1.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.75 PKR 487

3.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 PKR 498

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-54.91%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 401

$2.02 PKR 561

-28.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.39 PKR 110

-12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 211

$1.02 PKR 284

-25.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.66 PKR 184

-7.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.27 PKR 353

-9.45%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.23 PKR 341

-4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 PKR 963

$6.02 PKR 1,675

-42.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 PKR 633

$3.41 PKR 948

-33.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,261

$4.53 PKR 1,260

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 237

$1.03 PKR 288

-17.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.84 PKR 233

-13.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 228

$0.90 PKR 251

-8.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.55 PKR 153

-7.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.6

$0.38 PKR 106

-21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.56 PKR 156

-8.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.9

$0.30 PKR 84.6

3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 49.12

$0.41 PKR 113

-56.10%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.94 PKR 539

$1.99 PKR 553

-2.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.93 PKR 257

-2.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 551

$2.01 PKR 560

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.15 PKR 598

-19.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.19 PKR 52.8

36.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.88 PKR 1,914

$6.95 PKR 1,933

-1.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.85 PKR 236

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.41 PKR 113

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 PKR 773

$2.81 PKR 781

-1.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.95 PKR 264

-6.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-0.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-0.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.07 PKR 12.3K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-60.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.06 PKR 850

$5.36 PKR 1,492

-42.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,231

$18.59 PKR 5,168

1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.35 PKR 4,823

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-21.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.43 PKR 955

$5.89 PKR 1,638

-41.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.32 PKR 1,202

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-0.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$34.78 PKR 9,669

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-41.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$541 PKR 150.4K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-80.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.03 PKR 2,510

$21.12 PKR 5,873

-57.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.03 PKR 1,954

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-74.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 PKR 24.7K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

1.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.52 PKR 3,480

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-68.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$36.06 PKR 10.0K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-82.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$20.86 PKR 5,799

$112 PKR 31.0K

-81.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.5K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-68.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$42.81 PKR 11.9K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-85.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 PKR 179.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$238 PKR 66.1K

$378 PKR 105.1K

-37.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abbottabad: June 8, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $36.06 in Abbottabad versus $201 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 59% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Abbottabad versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $78.0 vs $100 – making Abbottabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abbottabad vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 74% more than Abbottabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $460 per month in Abbottabad and $799 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abbottabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $34.78 per month in Abbottabad and $59.4 in Islamabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $307 in Abbottabad and $533 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Abbottabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Abbottabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.