Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $304 in Bahawalpur versus $589 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $515 in Bahawalpur versus $918 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $726 in Bahawalpur versus $1,246 in Islamabad.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 48% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 78% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.76 PKR 488

$3.57 PKR 990

-50.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.23 PKR 2,004

$22.74 PKR 6,309

-68.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.43 PKR 1,229

$5.47 PKR 1,517

-19.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 PKR 694

$3.55 PKR 986

-29.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PKR 610

$6.71 PKR 1,862

-67.21%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 415

$2.39 PKR 663

-37.24%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.6

$0.32 PKR 90.0

-3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 53.0

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.99 PKR 275

-43.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.79 PKR 220

-45.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.28 PKR 354

-18.75%

Eggs

$1.00 PKR 276

$1.28 PKR 356

-21.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 PKR 2,434

$6.11 PKR 1,695

43.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$3.06 PKR 849

-17.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.08 PKR 1,133

$5.12 PKR 1,421

-20.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.34 PKR 371

-22.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.84 PKR 232

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$1.02 PKR 282

-43.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.49 PKR 135

-2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.6

$0.29 PKR 81.2

6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.33 PKR 90.4

51.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.29 PKR 80.8

72.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.38 PKR 106

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.90 PKR 528

-73.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.38 PKR 383

-59.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 206

$2.35 PKR 652

-68.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 PKR 554

$2.28 PKR 632

-12.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$1.27 PKR 353

-13.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 PKR 294

$0.69 PKR 191

53.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PKR 815

$1.65 PKR 459

78.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.32 PKR 365

-13.64%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-55.96%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-14.79%

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

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

$102 PKR 28.3K

-33.08%

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

$4.44 PKR 1,230

$5.83 PKR 1,618

-23.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.59 PKR 3,214

$16.34 PKR 4,534

-29.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.99 PKR 3,049

$8.93 PKR 2,478

23.07%

Cinema Ticket

$7.28 PKR 2,019

$5.01 PKR 1,390

45.31%

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

$23.81 PKR 6,605

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-68.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-87.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.45 PKR 4,564

$23.55 PKR 6,532

-30.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.94 PKR 6,086

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-32.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-36.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.16 PKR 8,089

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-25.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 PKR 71.4K

$577 PKR 160.1K

-55.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$266 PKR 73.9K

-52.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

111.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.0K

$829 PKR 230.1K

-8.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$136 PKR 37.6K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-64.44%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Islamabad pays 181% 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 $91.0 vs $103 per month, with Bahawalpur 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

Bahawalpur vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 94% 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 181% 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 13% higher in Islamabad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $304 per month in Bahawalpur versus $589 in Islamabad – a 94% 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 94% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.