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: $338 in Bahawalpur versus $529 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $835 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $724 in Bahawalpur versus $1,141 in Islamabad.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 36% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 498

$2.80 PKR 779

-36.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.97 PKR 2,495

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-36.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 PKR 959

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-36.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.72 PKR 478

-16.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 PKR 1,299

$4.00 PKR 1,112

16.75%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 359

$2.00 PKR 557

-35.50%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.43 PKR 119

-27.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.22 PKR 61.1

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.94 PKR 260

-47.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.62 PKR 173

-8.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.21 PKR 338

7.44%

Eggs

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.20 PKR 335

-14.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 PKR 2,044

$6.07 PKR 1,689

21.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 PKR 743

$3.39 PKR 942

-21.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 909

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-25.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 274

$1.03 PKR 287

-4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.78 PKR 216

-30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.93 PKR 260

-72.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.60 PKR 166

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.41 PKR 115

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.54 PKR 149

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.34 PKR 93.3

85.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 89.5

$0.37 PKR 103

-13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.94 PKR 263

$1.93 PKR 537

-51.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$0.90 PKR 251

-24.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 976

$1.99 PKR 552

76.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 PKR 521

$2.14 PKR 596

-12.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.19 PKR 52.2

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.81 PKR 503

$6.90 PKR 1,921

-73.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.86 PKR 238

26.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 PKR 49.67

$0.44 PKR 122

-59.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.81 PKR 782

-63.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.91 PKR 253

7.69%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-0.44%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-18.97%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-48.38%

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

$3.87 PKR 1,077

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-28.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.79 PKR 3,559

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-32.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,430

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-44.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 PKR 2,183

$6.04 PKR 1,679

29.97%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 PKR 586

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-49.88%

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

$26.12 PKR 7,266

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-56.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.6K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-76.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,433

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-26.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,157

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-19.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-31.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.44 PKR 7,357

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-33.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.6K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-46.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-51.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.7K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-56.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.4K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-54.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

129.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.5K

$657 PKR 182.9K

15.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$137 PKR 38.1K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-64.64%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Bahawalpur and $198 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 183% 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 $85.0 vs $98.0 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 56% 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, Islamabad earns 183% less. 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: $106 in Bahawalpur versus $198 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $338 per month in Bahawalpur versus $529 in Islamabad – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 281% 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 56% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.