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: $337 in Bahawalpur versus $534 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $847 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $725 in Bahawalpur versus $1,160 in Islamabad.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 37% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.85 PKR 791

-38.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.78 PKR 2,439

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-38.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 PKR 964

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-36.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 PKR 388

$1.72 PKR 477

-18.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 PKR 1,321

$3.82 PKR 1,061

24.61%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.97 PKR 547

-34.52%

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

$0.30 PKR 84.7

$0.40 PKR 110

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.96 PKR 268

-46.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.66 PKR 183

-19.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.28 PKR 355

-3.91%

Eggs

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.20 PKR 334

-12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 PKR 2,047

$6.07 PKR 1,687

21.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 714

$3.37 PKR 937

-23.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 903

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-25.29%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.04 PKR 289

-4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.84 PKR 234

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.91 PKR 253

-71.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.56 PKR 156

-5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.5

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.31 PKR 85.4

103.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 82.9

$0.41 PKR 113

-26.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 PKR 270

$2.00 PKR 555

-51.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.93 PKR 258

-25.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 PKR 963

$2.04 PKR 567

70.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 PKR 511

$2.14 PKR 595

-14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.4

$0.17 PKR 46.51

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.80 PKR 499

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-75.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 301

$0.85 PKR 236

27.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 57.0

$0.43 PKR 120

-51.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 297

$2.79 PKR 775

-61.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

2.33%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-18.96%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-49.39%

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

$3.89 PKR 1,080

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-28.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.75 PKR 3,541

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-31.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,454

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-43.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.09 PKR 2,247

$6.12 PKR 1,698

32.19%

Cinema Ticket

$2.18 PKR 605

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-47.34%

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

$26.76 PKR 7,431

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-55.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 PKR 189.1K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-75.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 PKR 4,419

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-24.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.24 PKR 6,174

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-19.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-31.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.13 PKR 7,255

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-36.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-47.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-51.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 PKR 65.0K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-53.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-54.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

128.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 PKR 216.5K

$647 PKR 179.8K

20.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-64.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-10.89%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Bahawalpur and $199 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 185% 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: $9.00 in Bahawalpur vs $14.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $100 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 59% 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 185% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $105 in Bahawalpur versus $199 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $337 per month in Bahawalpur versus $534 in Islamabad – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 301% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 59% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.