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: $426 in Burewala versus $534 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $646 in Burewala versus $847 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $866 in Burewala versus $1,160 in Islamabad.

Living in Burewala costs roughly 20% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Burewala 68% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 PKR 853

$2.85 PKR 791

7.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.03 PKR 2,507

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-36.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 PKR 1,148

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-23.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 PKR 1,223

$1.72 PKR 477

156.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PKR 956

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-9.95%

Cappuccino

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.97 PKR 547

-7.61%

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

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.40 PKR 110

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.24 PKR 67.0

54.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 246

$0.96 PKR 268

-7.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 PKR 217

$0.66 PKR 183

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 PKR 620

$1.28 PKR 355

74.22%

Eggs

$0.88 PKR 244

$1.20 PKR 334

-26.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PKR 1,709

$6.07 PKR 1,687

1.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 PKR 930

$3.37 PKR 937

-0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.99 PKR 1,941

$4.35 PKR 1,209

60.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 PKR 377

$1.04 PKR 289

30.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PKR 215

$0.84 PKR 234

-8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.91 PKR 253

-27.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.25 PKR 69.7

$0.56 PKR 156

-55.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.41 PKR 115

-48.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.57 PKR 158

28.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.7

$0.31 PKR 85.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 95.8

$0.41 PKR 113

-17.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.37 PKR 382

$2.00 PKR 555

-31.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 PKR 546

$2.04 PKR 567

-3.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 583

$2.14 PKR 595

-1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.0

$0.17 PKR 46.51

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.23 PKR 2,009

$7.22 PKR 2,005

0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.43 PKR 120

-4.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.79 PKR 775

-35.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.98 PKR 271

1.02%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

1.67%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-11.02%

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

$101 PKR 28.1K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-10.84%

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

$4.17 PKR 1,157

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-22.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,771

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-27.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.24 PKR 3,399

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-44.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 PKR 1,667

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-1.96%

Cinema Ticket

$3.51 PKR 973

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-15.22%

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

$29.88 PKR 8,298

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-50.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,120 PKR 311.1K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-59.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.19 PKR 4,217

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-27.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.37 PKR 6,213

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-19.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 PKR 19.7K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-19.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.25 PKR 8,122

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-28.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-62.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.4K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-67.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-64.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$927 PKR 257.5K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-38.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$492 PKR 136.7K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-23.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.1 in Burewala and $199 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 $108 vs $100, 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 25% 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 $639 in Burewala and $801 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: $75.1 in Burewala versus $199 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 0% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $29.88 in Burewala versus $60.2 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 25% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.