Cost of Living Comparison Between Dera Ghazi Khan and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Dera Ghazi Khan and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $419 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $593 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $630 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $929 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $841 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $1,264 in Islamabad.

Living in Dera Ghazi Khan costs roughly 29% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dera Ghazi Khan 69% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.83 PKR 507

$3.56 PKR 985

-48.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.92 PKR 3,026

$23.22 PKR 6,431

-52.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 PKR 1,513

$5.44 PKR 1,507

0.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 PKR 691

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-32.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 PKR 597

$6.73 PKR 1,866

-68.05%

Cappuccino

$1.45 PKR 401

$2.51 PKR 694

-42.23%

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

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.33 PKR 90.1

39.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 82.3

$0.21 PKR 58.2

42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.94 PKR 261

-10.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.75 PKR 209

-17.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.25 PKR 347

0.80%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 329

$1.21 PKR 335

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 PKR 2,430

$6.06 PKR 1,679

44.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 PKR 731

$3.20 PKR 886

-17.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.00 PKR 1,107

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-26.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 302

$1.25 PKR 346

-12.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 171

$0.81 PKR 224

-23.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$1.03 PKR 286

-47.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.52 PKR 145

-7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 79.6

$0.26 PKR 71.2

11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.33 PKR 90.7

57.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.30 PKR 83.6

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.42 PKR 118

-4.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 PKR 144

$2.01 PKR 556

-74.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.24 PKR 343

-58.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 PKR 209

$2.59 PKR 719

-71.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 642

$2.32 PKR 641

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.9

$0.20 PKR 55.7

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 PKR 2,752

$21.86 PKR 6,057

-54.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 303

$1.29 PKR 358

-14.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 PKR 295

$0.74 PKR 205

43.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 809

$1.61 PKR 445

81.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$1.25 PKR 348

-24.00%

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

$23.3K PKR 6.4M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-57.07%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-6.73%

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

$68.1 PKR 18.9K

$104 PKR 28.9K

-34.76%

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

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-3.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.51 PKR 4,020

$16.18 PKR 4,481

-10.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.18 PKR 4,206

$28.70 PKR 7,951

-47.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PKR 1,964

$4.37 PKR 1,210

62.24%

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

$26.95 PKR 7,465

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

-64.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,022 PKR 560.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-60.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.03 PKR 5,272

$25.08 PKR 6,947

-24.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.07 PKR 7,222

$35.11 PKR 9,727

-25.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-45.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.24 PKR 8,100

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

-26.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 PKR 38.8K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-49.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.4 PKR 23.9K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-37.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 PKR 61.5K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-62.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 PKR 39.0K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-49.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$905 PKR 250.6K

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

-44.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$517 PKR 143.2K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-36.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

13.08

-9.56%

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

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: September 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $278 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan vs $23.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $103 per month, with Dera Ghazi Khan 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

Dera Ghazi Khan vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dera Ghazi Khan and Islamabad differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($419 vs $593 including rent). Dera Ghazi Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $629 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $890 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: $140 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $278 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dera Ghazi Khan runs roughly 120% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $26.95 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $74.9 in Islamabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Dera Ghazi Khan 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, Dera Ghazi Khan 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 Dera Ghazi Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.