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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $460 per month in Daska vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $697 per month in Daska vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $933 per month in Daska vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Daska is about 13% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Daska and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Daska 66% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 799

$2.80 PKR 779

2.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.41 PKR 4,009

$14.22 PKR 3,955

1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.37 PKR 1,494

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-1.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 499

$1.72 PKR 478

4.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-0.25%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 551

$2.00 PKR 557

-1.00%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.43 PKR 119

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 263

$0.94 PKR 260

1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.62 PKR 173

8.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.21 PKR 338

1.65%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.20 PKR 335

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,771

$6.07 PKR 1,689

4.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 PKR 957

$3.39 PKR 942

1.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.33 PKR 1,206

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-1.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 277

$1.03 PKR 287

-2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 235

$0.78 PKR 216

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 PKR 265

$0.93 PKR 260

2.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.60 PKR 166

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.41 PKR 115

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.54 PKR 149

7.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.39 PKR 387

$1.93 PKR 537

-27.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.90 PKR 251

-4.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 544

$1.99 PKR 552

-1.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$2.14 PKR 596

-2.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.83

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.03 PKR 1,955

$6.90 PKR 1,921

1.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.86 PKR 238

-2.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.44 PKR 122

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-2.97%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-1.06%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$112 PKR 31.1K

0.91%

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

$5.43 PKR 1,510

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.78 PKR 5,225

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-0.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.29 PKR 3,419

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-44.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 PKR 1,694

$6.04 PKR 1,679

0.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PKR 1,159

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-1.19%

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

$58.9 PKR 16.4K

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-2.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,105 PKR 307.4K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-60.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.86 PKR 6,081

$21.57 PKR 5,999

1.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.05 PKR 7,803

$27.63 PKR 7,686

1.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.82 PKR 11.1K

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-61.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.1 PKR 14.2K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-54.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.9K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-67.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-64.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$940 PKR 261.5K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-39.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$496 PKR 137.9K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-24.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.8 in Daska versus $198 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 – $100 in Daska vs $98.0 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 15% 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 $690 per month in Daska and $794 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 2% 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 $460 in Daska and $529 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.