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: $291 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $533 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $465 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $849 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $640 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $1,166 in Islamabad.

Living in Dera Ghazi Khan costs roughly 45% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dera Ghazi Khan 78% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.17 PKR 325

$2.89 PKR 804

-59.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.58 PKR 2,942

$14.01 PKR 3,894

-24.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.43 PKR 676

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-54.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.75 PKR 487

-40.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 PKR 499

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-54.66%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 417

$2.02 PKR 561

-25.74%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.39 PKR 110

-12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.0

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 199

$1.02 PKR 284

-29.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.66 PKR 184

-30.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.23 PKR 341

-3.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.72 PKR 757

$6.02 PKR 1,675

-54.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.97 PKR 548

$3.41 PKR 948

-42.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.11 PKR 865

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-31.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.03 PKR 288

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.84 PKR 233

-30.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.90 PKR 251

-27.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.55 PKR 153

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.7

$0.38 PKR 106

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.56 PKR 156

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.30 PKR 84.6

106.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.0

$0.41 PKR 113

-17.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.96 PKR 267

$1.99 PKR 553

-51.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.93 PKR 257

-1.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 562

$2.01 PKR 560

0.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.15 PKR 598

-19.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 54.1

$0.19 PKR 52.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,996

$6.95 PKR 1,933

3.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 290

$0.85 PKR 236

22.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 PKR 91.9

$0.41 PKR 113

-19.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.81 PKR 781

-37.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.95 PKR 264

-5.26%

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

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

5.62%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-18.63%

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

$58.2 PKR 16.2K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-48.00%

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

$2.28 PKR 633

$5.36 PKR 1,492

-57.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.90 PKR 3,586

$18.59 PKR 5,168

-30.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.20 PKR 3,391

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-44.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,673

$5.89 PKR 1,638

2.21%

Cinema Ticket

$3.46 PKR 962

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-20.28%

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

$28.04 PKR 7,795

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-52.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,114 PKR 309.8K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-59.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.22 PKR 4,510

$21.12 PKR 5,873

-23.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.88 PKR 6,082

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-21.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-32.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.80 PKR 7,173

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-34.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$55.8 PKR 15.5K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-72.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$30.32 PKR 8,430

$112 PKR 31.0K

-72.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-77.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-77.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$915 PKR 254.5K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-41.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 PKR 133.5K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-25.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-10.89%

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

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: June 9, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $55.8 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $201 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan vs $14.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $71.0 vs $100 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 83% in total monthly costs ($291 vs $533 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 $436 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $799 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: $55.8 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $201 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 3% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $28.04 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $59.4 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 83% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.