Cost of Living Comparison Between Daska and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Daska and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $490 per month in Daska vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $774 per month in Daska vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Daska vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Daska is about 17% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Daska and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Daska 64% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 PKR 992

$3.57 PKR 989

0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.48 PKR 6,233

$22.74 PKR 6,305

-1.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 PKR 1,487

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-2.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.46 PKR 958

$3.55 PKR 985

-2.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 PKR 1,928

$6.71 PKR 1,861

3.58%

Cappuccino

$2.43 PKR 673

$2.39 PKR 663

1.67%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.9

$0.32 PKR 90.0

9.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.22 PKR 60.8

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 270

$0.99 PKR 275

-1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 PKR 214

$0.79 PKR 219

-2.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.28 PKR 354

-0.78%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.28 PKR 356

-2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.88 PKR 1,630

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-3.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 836

$3.06 PKR 848

-1.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.98 PKR 1,382

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-2.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.34 PKR 371

-8.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.84 PKR 232

1.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 297

$1.02 PKR 282

4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.49 PKR 135

-12.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 PKR 74.5

$0.29 PKR 81.1

-6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.33 PKR 90.4

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.7

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.83 PKR 508

$1.90 PKR 528

-3.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.38 PKR 383

-3.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PKR 672

$2.35 PKR 651

2.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 PKR 658

$2.28 PKR 632

3.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.53

$0.16 PKR 44.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.84 PKR 2,728

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-53.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.27 PKR 353

-9.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 193

$0.69 PKR 191

1.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 487

$1.65 PKR 458

6.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.32 PKR 365

-3.79%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-60.42%

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

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-3.07%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$102 PKR 28.3K

1.05%

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

$5.69 PKR 1,579

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-2.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.06 PKR 4,451

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.63 PKR 4,611

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-42.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.96 PKR 1,375

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-1.00%

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

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,020 PKR 282.8K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-79.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 PKR 6,698

$23.55 PKR 6,528

2.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.26 PKR 8,943

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-1.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 PKR 24.7K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-57.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.0 PKR 20.5K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-48.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 PKR 70.5K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-55.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 PKR 42.1K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-42.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$922 PKR 255.6K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-43.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$504 PKR 139.6K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-39.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Daska: September 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Daska versus $277 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Daska versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $103 – making Daska the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Daska vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 20% more than Daska, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $735 per month in Daska and $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Daska, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Daska and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $490 in Daska and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Daska – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Daska. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.