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: $450 in Bahawalnagar versus $532 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Bahawalnagar versus $834 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $865 in Bahawalnagar versus $1,136 in Islamabad.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalnagar 66% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 PKR 583

$2.89 PKR 803

-27.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.92 PKR 3,862

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 PKR 1,199

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-20.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 PKR 765

$1.76 PKR 488

56.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-4.75%

Cappuccino

$2.27 PKR 630

$1.98 PKR 550

14.65%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.39 PKR 108

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.02 PKR 284

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.62 PKR 172

-8.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.22 PKR 339

-0.82%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 326

$1.22 PKR 338

-3.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PKR 1,706

$6.04 PKR 1,677

1.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.34 PKR 649

$3.37 PKR 936

-30.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$4.47 PKR 1,239

-71.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.00 PKR 278

-14.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.84 PKR 233

-23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.93 PKR 259

-39.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.57 PKR 157

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.58 PKR 160

-15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 91.8

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 104

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.90 PKR 528

-41.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.85 PKR 236

-36.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.96 PKR 543

-56.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 527

$2.10 PKR 584

-9.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.1

$0.16 PKR 43.35

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.93 PKR 1,924

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-3.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 187

$0.84 PKR 233

-19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.44 PKR 122

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 479

$2.87 PKR 796

-40.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.93 PKR 257

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

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-15.36%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-13.02%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$113 PKR 31.4K

24.96%

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

$5.42 PKR 1,504

$5.39 PKR 1,495

0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.30 PKR 4,802

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-7.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.42 PKR 3,448

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-45.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 PKR 1,691

$6.02 PKR 1,671

1.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,167

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-3.22%

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

$34.65 PKR 9,616

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-42.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-55.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.24 PKR 4,230

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-28.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.48 PKR 6,239

$28.13 PKR 7,807

-20.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-18.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.04 PKR 8,338

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-25.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.1 PKR 21.1K

$197 PKR 54.8K

-61.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.6K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-67.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.0K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-65.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$911 PKR 252.7K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-41.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.4K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-28.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.1 in Bahawalnagar and $197 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $675 in Bahawalnagar and $798 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: $76.1 in Bahawalnagar versus $197 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 4% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $34.65 in Bahawalnagar versus $60.5 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.