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: $440 in Bahawalnagar versus $543 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Bahawalnagar versus $851 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $874 in Bahawalnagar versus $1,159 in Islamabad.

Living in Bahawalnagar costs roughly 19% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalnagar 67% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 PKR 605

$2.87 PKR 802

-24.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.34 PKR 4,003

$14.22 PKR 3,968

0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 PKR 1,168

$5.23 PKR 1,461

-19.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 767

$1.74 PKR 486

58.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,012

$3.82 PKR 1,067

-4.97%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 653

$2.05 PKR 573

14.15%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.4

$0.22 PKR 61.3

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.96 PKR 267

-10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.61 PKR 171

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 339

$1.27 PKR 356

-4.72%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 327

$1.21 PKR 337

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,690

$6.17 PKR 1,722

-1.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 664

$3.49 PKR 975

-31.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$4.39 PKR 1,226

-71.07%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 245

$1.03 PKR 289

-14.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 177

$0.82 PKR 230

-23.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.94 PKR 264

-35.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.56 PKR 155

-21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.9

$0.38 PKR 106

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.53 PKR 147

-1.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 92.7

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 104

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.96 PKR 548

-64.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.92 PKR 256

-43.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 PKR 245

$1.98 PKR 553

-55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 554

$2.07 PKR 578

-4.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 54.2

$0.17 PKR 46.63

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.01 PKR 1,956

$6.98 PKR 1,948

0.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.92 PKR 256

-20.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.41 PKR 113

29.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 490

$2.75 PKR 768

-36.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 247

$0.98 PKR 274

-10.20%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-17.79%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-12.36%

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

$139 PKR 38.7K

$111 PKR 31.1K

24.54%

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

$5.47 PKR 1,528

$5.52 PKR 1,540

-0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.15 PKR 4,788

$18.67 PKR 5,210

-8.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.61 PKR 3,519

$22.27 PKR 6,215

-43.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 PKR 1,660

$5.85 PKR 1,632

1.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,197

$4.14 PKR 1,155

3.62%

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

$35.17 PKR 9,817

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-42.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 PKR 346.6K

$2,782 PKR 776.4K

-55.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.19 PKR 4,241

$21.34 PKR 5,955

-28.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.65 PKR 6,322

$28.33 PKR 7,909

-20.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.4 PKR 20.5K

$90.1 PKR 25.2K

-18.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.67 PKR 8,560

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-24.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 PKR 21.4K

$200 PKR 55.8K

-61.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-53.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.2K

$513 PKR 143.2K

-67.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.1K

$288 PKR 80.5K

-63.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$924 PKR 257.9K

$1,526 PKR 425.8K

-39.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$557 PKR 155.5K

$740 PKR 206.6K

-24.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.6 in Bahawalnagar and $200 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 $79.0 vs $99.0 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 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $661 in Bahawalnagar and $814 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: $76.6 in Bahawalnagar versus $200 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 0% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $35.17 in Bahawalnagar versus $60.9 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 23% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.