Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalnagar and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalnagar and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $503 in Bahawalnagar versus $593 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $741 in Bahawalnagar versus $929 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Bahawalnagar versus $1,264 in Islamabad.

Living in Bahawalnagar costs roughly 15% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalnagar 63% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 PKR 704

$3.56 PKR 985

-28.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.30 PKR 3,961

$23.22 PKR 6,430

-38.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,567

$5.44 PKR 1,507

4.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 PKR 1,023

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-0.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$6.73 PKR 1,865

-21.69%

Cappuccino

$2.57 PKR 711

$2.51 PKR 694

2.39%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.33 PKR 90.0

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.1

$0.21 PKR 58.2

23.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.94 PKR 261

-6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 PKR 189

$0.75 PKR 209

-9.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 334

$1.25 PKR 347

-3.20%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.21 PKR 335

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 PKR 1,772

$6.06 PKR 1,679

5.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.48 PKR 686

$3.20 PKR 886

-22.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 PKR 1,362

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-9.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.25 PKR 346

-2.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.81 PKR 224

-20.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 254

$1.03 PKR 286

-10.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 171

$0.52 PKR 145

19.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 77.1

$0.26 PKR 71.2

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.33 PKR 90.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.30 PKR 83.6

56.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.42 PKR 118

-21.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$2.01 PKR 556

-45.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 PKR 178

$1.24 PKR 343

-48.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 PKR 461

$2.59 PKR 718

-35.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 PKR 588

$2.32 PKR 641

-8.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 51.8

$0.20 PKR 55.7

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.47 PKR 2,900

$21.86 PKR 6,056

-52.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.29 PKR 358

-27.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.74 PKR 205

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.61 PKR 445

12.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.25 PKR 348

6.40%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-66.60%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

8.04%

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

$128 PKR 35.6K

$104 PKR 28.9K

23.03%

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

$5.13 PKR 1,422

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-12.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.41 PKR 4,546

$16.18 PKR 4,480

1.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.30 PKR 4,514

$28.70 PKR 7,950

-43.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,203

$4.37 PKR 1,210

-0.69%

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

$46.41 PKR 12.9K

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

-38.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,005 PKR 555.5K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-60.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.76 PKR 4,918

$25.08 PKR 6,946

-29.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.19 PKR 7,531

$35.11 PKR 9,725

-22.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 PKR 20.6K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-23.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.60 PKR 8,752

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

-20.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$121 PKR 33.4K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-56.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.1K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-44.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 PKR 73.9K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-54.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 PKR 41.2K

$277 PKR 76.7K

-46.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$966 PKR 267.7K

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

-40.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.3K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-43.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

13.08

9.17%

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

Last update for Bahawalnagar: September 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $121 in Bahawalnagar and $278 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Bahawalnagar vs $23.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96.0 vs $103 per month, with Bahawalnagar cheaper across the board.

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

Bahawalnagar vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $754 in Bahawalnagar and $890 in Islamabad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $121 in Bahawalnagar versus $278 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalnagar runs roughly 109% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $46.41 in Bahawalnagar versus $74.9 in Islamabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bahawalnagar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Bahawalnagar 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 Bahawalnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.