Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Islamabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahawalpur: $290 a month against $599 in Islamabad, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

14

Cost of Living Index in Bahawalpur
Learn more

Bahawalpur Living Index
29

Cost of Living Index in Islamabad
Learn more

Islamabad Living Index

Jump to prices

Bahawalpur

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$290

/mo nomad

Islamabad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$599

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bahawalpur 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 Bahawalpur and in Islamabad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $290 in Bahawalpur versus $599 in Islamabad.

Bahawalpur $290
Islamabad $599

Estimated couple costs with rent: $504 in Bahawalpur versus $930 in Islamabad.

Bahawalpur $504
Islamabad $930

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $717 in Bahawalpur versus $1,261 in Islamabad.

Bahawalpur $717
Islamabad $1,261

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 52% less than in Islamabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 79% lower, Islamabad 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 PKR 498

$3.63 PKR 1,004

-50.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.39 PKR 2,047

$23.40 PKR 6,478

-68.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 PKR 1,256

$5.54 PKR 1,534

-18.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 PKR 719

$3.57 PKR 987

-27.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PKR 609

$6.73 PKR 1,864

-67.31%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 417

$2.64 PKR 730

-42.80%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.6

$0.32 PKR 89.6

-3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.23 PKR 63.7

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 PKR 151

$0.94 PKR 259

-41.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 154

$0.72 PKR 200

-22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.30 PKR 361

-21.54%

Eggs

$0.89 PKR 247

$1.22 PKR 339

-27.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 PKR 1,477

$6.05 PKR 1,674

-11.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 PKR 719

$3.09 PKR 855

-15.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.17 PKR 1,155

$5.35 PKR 1,482

-22.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 292

$1.26 PKR 350

-15.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.87 PKR 241

-40.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.04 PKR 288

-46.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.3

$0.29 PKR 81.2

3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.36 PKR 99.4

30.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.28 PKR 76.4

121.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.39 PKR 108

-5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.56 PKR 155

$1.95 PKR 539

-71.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 PKR 145

$1.19 PKR 331

-55.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 193

$2.68 PKR 743

-73.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 PKR 389

$2.24 PKR 619

-37.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.34 PKR 5,905

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 302

$1.24 PKR 344

-12.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 PKR 304

$0.74 PKR 204

48.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 PKR 791

$1.60 PKR 442

78.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.37 PKR 378

-12.41%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$54.5K PKR 15.1M

-56.37%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$23.9K PKR 6.6M

-9.31%

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

$68.0 PKR 18.8K

$103 PKR 28.6K

-34.17%

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

$4.60 PKR 1,274

$5.99 PKR 1,658

-23.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.58 PKR 3,206

$17.15 PKR 4,746

-32.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.20 PKR 7,806

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.67 PKR 2,953

$8.47 PKR 2,344

25.97%

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PKR 1,963

$4.43 PKR 1,226

60.05%

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

$23.83 PKR 6,596

$75.7 PKR 20.9K

-68.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$646 PKR 178.7K

$5,004 PKR 1.4M

-87.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.54 PKR 4,578

$25.72 PKR 7,118

-35.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.85 PKR 6,047

$34.48 PKR 9,543

-36.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.5 PKR 14.8K

$95.5 PKR 26.4K

-43.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.37 PKR 8,127

$41.32 PKR 11.4K

-28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 PKR 76.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 PKR 38.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 PKR 69.8K

$572 PKR 158.2K

-55.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.8K

$270 PKR 74.9K

-53.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 PKR 964.1K

$1,629 PKR 450.8K

113.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$758 PKR 209.8K

$836 PKR 231.5K

-9.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$138 PKR 38.1K

$380 PKR 105.2K

-63.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

13.08

-9.56%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: October 11, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bahawalpur

$84 29%

Islamabad

$126 21.1% 50.2% $42

Groceries & Markets

Bahawalpur

$82 28.4%

Islamabad

$102 17% 24% $20

Clothing & Footwear

Bahawalpur

$55 18.8%

Islamabad

$89 14.8% 62.5% $34

Eating Out

Bahawalpur

$48 16.6%

Islamabad

$80 13.3% 65.1% $31

Sport & Entertainment

Bahawalpur

$14 * 4.9%

Islamabad

$37 6.2% 161% $23

Getting Around

Bahawalpur

$6.6 * 2.3%

Islamabad

$27 4.5% 309% $20

Accommodation & Living

Bahawalpur

- * 0%

Islamabad

$139 23.1%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Islamabad pays 176% 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: $7.00 in Bahawalpur vs $23.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 vs $102 per month, with Bahawalpur cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇰 Bahawalpur

🇵🇰 Islamabad

🕒 Local time

05:32 5:32 AM

Same time as Bahawalpur

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

762,111

1,009,832 Capital

💱 Currency

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Bahawalpur Islamabad 500 km

From you

Bahawalpur
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

Bahawalpur vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Islamabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 176% lower in Islamabad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Islamabad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $290 per month in Bahawalpur versus $599 in Islamabad – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur 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, Bahawalpur 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 Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.