Cost of Living Comparison Between Burewala and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Burewala and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $430 in Burewala versus $529 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $638 in Burewala versus $835 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in Burewala versus $1,141 in Islamabad.

Living in Burewala costs roughly 19% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Burewala 68% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 PKR 817

$2.80 PKR 779

5.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.91 PKR 2,480

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-37.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 PKR 1,162

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-23.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.51 PKR 1,254

$1.72 PKR 478

162.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 1,001

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-10.00%

Cappuccino

$1.79 PKR 498

$2.00 PKR 557

-10.50%

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

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.43 PKR 119

18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.22 PKR 61.1

68.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.94 PKR 260

-6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 218

$0.62 PKR 173

27.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 PKR 610

$1.21 PKR 338

80.99%

Eggs

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.20 PKR 335

-24.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.97 PKR 1,660

$6.07 PKR 1,689

-1.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 PKR 951

$3.39 PKR 942

0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.86 PKR 1,910

$4.38 PKR 1,218

56.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 PKR 376

$1.03 PKR 287

31.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.78 PKR 216

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.93 PKR 260

-27.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.60 PKR 166

-61.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.23 PKR 64.3

$0.41 PKR 115

-43.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.54 PKR 149

35.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.9

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 96.7

$0.37 PKR 103

-5.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.38 PKR 385

$1.93 PKR 537

-28.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 571

$1.99 PKR 552

3.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 PKR 588

$2.14 PKR 596

-0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.0

$0.19 PKR 52.2

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.01 PKR 1,949

$6.90 PKR 1,921

1.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.86 PKR 238

6.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.44 PKR 122

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.81 PKR 782

-37.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.91 PKR 253

2.20%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.9M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-2.16%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-11.13%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-10.06%

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

$3.97 PKR 1,103

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-27.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.50 PKR 3,756

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-28.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,500

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-43.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.75 PKR 1,600

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-4.80%

Cinema Ticket

$3.59 PKR 999

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-14.73%

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

$30.34 PKR 8,440

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-49.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,124 PKR 312.7K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-59.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.87 PKR 4,136

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-31.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.06 PKR 6,136

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-20.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 PKR 19.7K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-19.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.94 PKR 8,052

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-27.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.5 PKR 21.3K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-61.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 PKR 47.2K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-66.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-64.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,119 PKR 311.2K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-27.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$575 PKR 159.9K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-12.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-5.94%

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

Last update for Burewala: June 2, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.5 in Burewala and $198 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Burewala vs $14.00 in Islamabad. Groceries flip the comparison at $107 vs $98.0, with Islamabad cheaper for home cooking.

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

Burewala vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burewala wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Islamabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Burewala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $646 in Burewala and $794 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: $76.5 in Burewala versus $198 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Burewala runs roughly 2% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $30.34 in Burewala versus $60.3 in Islamabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Burewala 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, Burewala 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 Burewala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.