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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $311 per month in Abbottabad vs $532 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $482 per month in Abbottabad vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $653 per month in Abbottabad vs $1,136 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

$1.74 PKR 483

$2.89 PKR 803

-39.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.20 PKR 3,386

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-13.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 PKR 1,456

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-3.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.76 PKR 488

1.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 PKR 499

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-52.51%

Cappuccino

$1.37 PKR 380

$1.98 PKR 550

-30.81%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.39 PKR 108

-20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.22 PKR 60.8

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$1.02 PKR 284

-22.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.62 PKR 172

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.22 PKR 339

-4.92%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.22 PKR 338

-1.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.59 PKR 995

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-40.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.34 PKR 649

$3.37 PKR 936

-30.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,241

$4.47 PKR 1,239

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.00 PKR 278

-9.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.84 PKR 233

-5.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 227

$0.93 PKR 259

-11.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.57 PKR 157

-7.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.9

$0.41 PKR 115

-26.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.58 PKR 160

-17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.33 PKR 91.8

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 51.1

$0.37 PKR 104

-51.35%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.90 PKR 528

5.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.85 PKR 236

2.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 566

$1.96 PKR 543

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 PKR 499

$2.10 PKR 584

-14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 PKR 66.5

$0.16 PKR 43.35

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.89 PKR 1,912

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-4.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.84 PKR 233

9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 112

$0.44 PKR 122

-6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 PKR 803

$2.87 PKR 796

0.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.93 PKR 257

4.30%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.8M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-0.10%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-1.71%

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

$43.43 PKR 12.1K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-61.56%

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

$3.00 PKR 832

$5.39 PKR 1,495

-44.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.74 PKR 5,202

$18.61 PKR 5,165

0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.49 PKR 4,855

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-23.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.49 PKR 967

$6.02 PKR 1,671

-42.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.36 PKR 1,211

$4.35 PKR 1,209

0.23%

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

$35.95 PKR 9,977

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-40.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$540 PKR 150.0K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-80.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.90 PKR 2,471

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-57.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.26 PKR 2,015

$28.13 PKR 7,806

-74.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.3K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-2.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.53 PKR 3,477

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-68.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$35.68 PKR 9,901

$197 PKR 54.8K

-81.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$20.88 PKR 5,795

$110 PKR 30.5K

-80.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.0K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-67.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$41.81 PKR 11.6K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-86.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$236 PKR 65.4K

$387 PKR 107.5K

-39.19%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $35.68 in Abbottabad versus $197 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 64% 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: $80.0 vs $99.0 – 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 71% 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 $466 per month in Abbottabad and $798 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 4% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $35.95 per month in Abbottabad and $60.5 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 $311 in Abbottabad and $532 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.