Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Islamabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Islamabad: $613 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $25,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index
29

Cost of Living Index in Islamabad
Learn more

Islamabad Living Index

Jump to prices

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Islamabad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$613

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Islamabad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Islamabad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $613 in Islamabad.

Austin, TX $2,704
Islamabad $613

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $951 in Islamabad.

Austin, TX $4,133
Islamabad $951

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $1,289 in Islamabad.

Austin, TX $5,562
Islamabad $1,289

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 341% more expensive than in Islamabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 102% above, Islamabad is 54% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$3.55 PKR 983

469.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

$23.32 PKR 6,453

264.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$5.50 PKR 1,522

124.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 PKR 971

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 PKR 1,950

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$2.72 PKR 753

101.10%

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

$3.82 $3.82

$0.35 PKR 97.4

991.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.23 PKR 63.8

986.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.99 PKR 273

14.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$0.73 PKR 201

417.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.24 PKR 342

162.10%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$1.31 PKR 363

216.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$6.12 PKR 1,695

113.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$3.23 PKR 893

343.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

$5.44 PKR 1,506

193.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.35 PKR 374

224.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.86 PKR 239

68.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$1.08 PKR 298

320.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$0.55 PKR 153

661.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$0.28 PKR 78.3

839.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.36 PKR 98.6

555.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.30 PKR 83.5

486.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.42 PKR 115

414.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 549

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 347

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 PKR 715

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$2.32 PKR 642

322.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.20 PKR 54.5

645.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

$21.45 PKR 5,936

88.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.23 PKR 339

117.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.75 PKR 209

110.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.29 $35.29

$1.64 PKR 454

2051.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.39 PKR 385

-28.78%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$53.8K PKR 14.9M

-33.47%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$24.0K PKR 6.6M

13.27%

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

$219 $219

$103 PKR 28.5K

113.17%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$5.76 PKR 1,594

906.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$16.49 PKR 4,564

314.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 $57.9

$29.77 PKR 8,240

94.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 $14.82

$8.62 PKR 2,386

71.93%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$4.45 PKR 1,233

217.53%

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

$1,509 $1,509

$74.5 PKR 20.6K

1925.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$5,023 PKR 1.4M

327.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$24.55 PKR 6,793

110.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 $44.05

$34.19 PKR 9,461

28.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

$96.0 PKR 26.6K

-11.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$40.93 PKR 11.3K

157.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$272 PKR 75.2K

610.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$137 PKR 38.0K

826.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,670 $3,670

$572 PKR 158.4K

541.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$275 PKR 76.0K

819.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

$1,677 PKR 464.1K

354.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

$820 PKR 226.9K

290.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$379 PKR 104.8K

1247.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

13.08

-48.09%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2%

Islamabad

$137 22.9% 89.2% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$403 15.3%

Islamabad

$105 17.5% 73.9% $298

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.2%

Islamabad

$80 13.3% 77.1% $268

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$346 13.1%

Islamabad

$125 20.8% 63.8% $221

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.9%

Islamabad

$88 14.6% 31.6% $41

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.3%

Islamabad

$39 6.4% 55.1% $47

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$57 2.2%

Islamabad

$27 4.5% 52.2% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $272 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1248% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $23.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $105 per month, with Islamabad cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇵🇰 Islamabad

🕒 Local time

03:29 3:29 AM

13:29 1:29 PM

10 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

1,009,832 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇵🇰 Pakistani Rupee (₨)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

PKR to USD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Islamabad 12,840 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Islamabad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Austin, TX vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad wins on cost – living expenses run 341% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Islamabad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1248% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $272 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $613 in Islamabad – a 341% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Islamabad runs roughly 89% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $613 in Islamabad versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Islamabad but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Islamabad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Islamabad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Islamabad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 341% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.