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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $469 per month in Daska vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $713 per month in Daska vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $956 per month in Daska vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Daska is about 12% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Daska and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Daska 65% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.90 PKR 806

$2.85 PKR 791

1.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.98 PKR 3,881

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-1.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.37 PKR 1,492

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-1.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 498

$1.72 PKR 477

4.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PKR 1,098

$3.82 PKR 1,061

3.40%

Cappuccino

$2.01 PKR 559

$1.97 PKR 547

2.03%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.40 PKR 110

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.7

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 276

$0.96 PKR 268

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.66 PKR 183

-1.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.28 PKR 355

-0.78%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.20 PKR 334

2.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 PKR 987

$3.37 PKR 937

5.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.46 PKR 1,239

$4.35 PKR 1,209

2.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$1.04 PKR 289

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 217

$0.84 PKR 234

-7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.91 PKR 253

3.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.56 PKR 156

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.41 PKR 115

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.57 PKR 158

1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

$0.31 PKR 85.4

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.41 PKR 113

-2.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 393

$2.00 PKR 555

-29.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.93 PKR 258

-7.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 PKR 548

$2.04 PKR 567

-3.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 574

$2.14 PKR 595

-3.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.62

$0.17 PKR 46.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.93 PKR 1,925

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-4.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.85 PKR 236

7.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.43 PKR 120

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 PKR 783

$2.79 PKR 775

1.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.98 PKR 271

-8.16%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

2.91%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

0.95%

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

$114 PKR 31.7K

$114 PKR 31.6K

0.50%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,502

$5.41 PKR 1,501

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.37 PKR 5,102

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.21 PKR 3,391

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-44.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,625

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-4.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 PKR 1,159

$4.14 PKR 1,150

0.72%

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

$60.0 PKR 16.7K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-0.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,100 PKR 305.4K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-60.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.85 PKR 6,066

$21.08 PKR 5,854

3.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.52 PKR 7,919

$27.64 PKR 7,674

3.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 PKR 24.8K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

1.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.84 PKR 11.1K

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-2.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 PKR 21.3K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-61.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-53.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.4K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-67.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.3K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-64.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$832 PKR 231.0K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-45.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$521 PKR 144.6K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-19.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Daska: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.6 in Daska versus $199 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 $14.00 in Daska versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Groceries tell a different story – $101 in Daska vs $100 in Islamabad – so Islamabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 14% 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 $704 per month in Daska and $801 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Islamabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Daska and $14.00 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 $469 in Daska and $534 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.