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: $441 in Bahawalnagar versus $533 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $645 in Bahawalnagar versus $849 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $850 in Bahawalnagar versus $1,166 in Islamabad.

Living in Bahawalnagar costs roughly 17% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalnagar 67% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 586

$2.89 PKR 804

-26.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.89 PKR 3,862

$14.01 PKR 3,894

-0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 PKR 1,202

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-19.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 PKR 783

$1.75 PKR 487

61.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 PKR 1,057

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-4.28%

Cappuccino

$2.35 PKR 654

$2.02 PKR 561

16.34%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.9

$0.39 PKR 110

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 228

$1.02 PKR 284

-19.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.66 PKR 184

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.27 PKR 353

-7.87%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.23 PKR 341

-4.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.92 PKR 1,645

$6.02 PKR 1,675

-1.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 PKR 677

$3.41 PKR 948

-28.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-71.74%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 243

$1.03 PKR 288

-15.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.84 PKR 233

-29.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.90 PKR 251

-35.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.55 PKR 153

-12.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.38 PKR 106

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.56 PKR 156

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.30 PKR 84.6

60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.41 PKR 113

-14.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.87 PKR 243

$1.99 PKR 553

-56.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.93 PKR 257

-41.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 239

$2.01 PKR 560

-57.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 PKR 546

$2.15 PKR 598

-8.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.39

$0.19 PKR 52.8

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,995

$6.95 PKR 1,933

3.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 193

$0.85 PKR 236

-17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.41 PKR 113

19.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 499

$2.81 PKR 781

-36.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.95 PKR 264

-2.11%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-17.20%

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

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-9.61%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$112 PKR 31.1K

23.12%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,528

$5.36 PKR 1,492

2.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.02 PKR 4,733

$18.59 PKR 5,168

-8.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.35 PKR 3,432

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-44.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 PKR 1,645

$5.89 PKR 1,638

0.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,193

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-1.15%

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

$34.81 PKR 9,678

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-41.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,209 PKR 336.2K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-56.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.30 PKR 4,254

$21.12 PKR 5,873

-27.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.19 PKR 6,448

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-17.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-16.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.67 PKR 8,250

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-24.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-62.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-54.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-68.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.9K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-63.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$848 PKR 235.8K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-45.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$538 PKR 149.7K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-16.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.2

-1.58%

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

Last update for Bahawalnagar: June 7, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.8 in Bahawalnagar and $201 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Bahawalnagar vs $14.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $78.0 vs $100 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $662 in Bahawalnagar and $799 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: $75.8 in Bahawalnagar versus $201 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 3% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $34.81 in Bahawalnagar versus $59.4 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 21% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.