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: $298 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $532 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $466 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $834 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $634 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $1,136 in Islamabad.

Living in Dera Ghazi Khan costs roughly 44% 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

$1.16 PKR 322

$2.89 PKR 803

-59.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.42 PKR 2,893

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-26.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.41 PKR 669

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-55.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.76 PKR 488

-40.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 PKR 482

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-54.09%

Cappuccino

$1.46 PKR 404

$1.98 PKR 550

-26.26%

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

$0.31 PKR 86.0

$0.39 PKR 108

-20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.22 PKR 60.8

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 196

$1.02 PKR 284

-30.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.62 PKR 172

-32.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.22 PKR 339

4.10%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 318

$1.22 PKR 338

-5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.61 PKR 723

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-56.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.92 PKR 532

$3.37 PKR 936

-43.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$4.47 PKR 1,239

-30.65%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.00 PKR 278

-2.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.84 PKR 233

-29.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.93 PKR 259

-35.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.57 PKR 157

-3.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.2

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.58 PKR 160

-31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.33 PKR 91.8

81.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.37 PKR 104

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.90 PKR 528

-48.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.85 PKR 236

1.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 565

$1.96 PKR 543

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 PKR 482

$2.10 PKR 584

-17.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 48.13

$0.16 PKR 43.35

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.88 PKR 1,909

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-4.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.84 PKR 233

22.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.44 PKR 122

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 495

$2.87 PKR 796

-37.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 268

$0.93 PKR 257

4.30%

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

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

5.56%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-19.32%

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

$57.8 PKR 16.0K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-48.86%

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

$2.36 PKR 655

$5.39 PKR 1,495

-56.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.00 PKR 3,607

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-30.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.55 PKR 3,484

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-44.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.86 PKR 1,625

$6.02 PKR 1,671

-2.66%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-16.78%

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

$28.34 PKR 7,865

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-53.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,117 PKR 310.1K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-59.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.05 PKR 4,453

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-24.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.46 PKR 6,233

$28.13 PKR 7,806

-20.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-32.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.63 PKR 7,114

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-36.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

$197 PKR 54.8K

-70.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$29.72 PKR 8,249

$110 PKR 30.5K

-72.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 PKR 31.8K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-77.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-77.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$891 PKR 247.3K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-43.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$483 PKR 134.1K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-25.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.4 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $197 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan vs $14.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $70.0 vs $99.0 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 78% in total monthly costs ($298 vs $532 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 $448 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $798 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: $57.4 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $197 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 4% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $28.34 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $60.5 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 78% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.