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: $442 in Burewala versus $589 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Burewala versus $918 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $873 in Burewala versus $1,246 in Islamabad.

Living in Burewala costs roughly 25% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Burewala 68% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 PKR 565
$3.57 PKR 990
-42.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63 PKR 2,948
$22.74 PKR 6,309
-53.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.39 PKR 1,496
$5.47 PKR 1,517
-1.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 PKR 675
$3.55 PKR 986
-31.55%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 PKR 1,269
$6.71 PKR 1,862
-31.74%
Cappuccino
$1.47 PKR 409
$2.39 PKR 663
-38.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 99.0
$0.32 PKR 90.0
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 66.3
$0.22 PKR 60.8
9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 PKR 227
$0.99 PKR 275
-17.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 PKR 165
$0.79 PKR 220
-25.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 PKR 321
$1.28 PKR 354
-9.38%
Eggs
$1.24 PKR 345
$1.28 PKR 356
-3.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.80 PKR 1,610
$6.11 PKR 1,695
-5.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.62 PKR 727
$3.06 PKR 849
-14.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.94 PKR 1,370
$5.12 PKR 1,421
-3.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 314
$1.34 PKR 371
-15.67%
Banana (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 154
$0.84 PKR 232
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.74 PKR 205
$1.02 PKR 282
-27.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 135
$0.49 PKR 135
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.27 PKR 74.8
$0.29 PKR 81.2
-6.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 90.9
$0.33 PKR 90.4
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 PKR 75.9
$0.29 PKR 80.8
-6.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 102
$0.38 PKR 106
-2.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.87 PKR 518
$1.90 PKR 528
-1.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 PKR 307
$1.38 PKR 383
-19.57%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 PKR 659
$2.35 PKR 652
1.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07 PKR 576
$2.28 PKR 632
-9.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 52.7
$0.16 PKR 44.31
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.99 PKR 2,771
$21.23 PKR 5,889
-52.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 PKR 263
$1.27 PKR 353
-25.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 PKR 200
$0.69 PKR 191
4.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 PKR 435
$1.65 PKR 459
-4.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 PKR 292
$1.32 PKR 365
-20.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K PKR 6.9M
$53.9K PKR 15.0M
-53.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K PKR 7.7M
$25.1K PKR 7.0M
10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 PKR 32.5K
$102 PKR 28.3K
14.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.36 PKR 1,487
$5.83 PKR 1,618
-8.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.54 PKR 3,478
$16.34 PKR 4,534
-23.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.87 PKR 4,404
$29.09 PKR 8,071
-45.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.93 PKR 2,478
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 PKR 1,145
$5.01 PKR 1,390
-17.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.96 PKR 10.3K
$75.0 PKR 20.8K
-50.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,145 PKR 317.7K
$5,084 PKR 1.4M
-77.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.56 PKR 4,039
$23.55 PKR 6,532
-38.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.38 PKR 5,377
$32.68 PKR 9,066
-40.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 PKR 19.4K
$83.6 PKR 23.2K
-16.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.71 PKR 7,965
$39.29 PKR 10.9K
-26.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$124 PKR 34.4K
$277 PKR 76.8K
-55.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$80.7 PKR 22.4K
$144 PKR 40.0K
-44.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 PKR 70.7K
$577 PKR 160.1K
-55.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 PKR 46.4K
$266 PKR 73.9K
-37.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$793 PKR 220.0K
$1,635 PKR 453.5K
-51.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$560 PKR 155.4K
$829 PKR 230.1K
-32.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burewala
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$381 PKR 105.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.88
13.08
-1.53%

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

Last update for Burewala: August 29, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $124 in Burewala and $277 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Burewala vs $23.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $90.0 vs $103 per month, with Burewala 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
Burewala vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Burewala or Islamabad?
Burewala wins on cost – living expenses run 33% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Burewala and in Islamabad?
You'd need roughly $663 in Burewala and $884 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Burewala compared to Islamabad?
Rent for a central apartment: $124 in Burewala versus $277 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Burewala compared to Islamabad?
A monthly transit pass in Burewala runs roughly 113% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Burewala and in Islamabad?
Childcare runs $36.96 in Burewala versus $75.0 in Islamabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Burewala or in Islamabad?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Burewala or Islamabad?
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.
How safe is Burewala compared to Islamabad?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Burewala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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