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: $293 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $543 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $458 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $851 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $623 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $1,159 in Islamabad.

Living in Dera Ghazi Khan costs roughly 46% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dera Ghazi Khan 78% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.14 PKR 317

$2.87 PKR 801

-60.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.47 PKR 2,918

$14.22 PKR 3,963

-26.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.45 PKR 683

$5.23 PKR 1,459

-53.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 PKR 302

$1.74 PKR 486

-37.93%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 PKR 507

$3.82 PKR 1,066

-52.36%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 419

$2.05 PKR 573

-26.83%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.1

$0.39 PKR 109

-20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.3

$0.22 PKR 61.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 212

$0.96 PKR 267

-20.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.61 PKR 171

-31.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.27 PKR 355

-3.15%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 333

$1.21 PKR 337

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.67 PKR 745

$6.17 PKR 1,720

-56.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.91 PKR 532

$3.49 PKR 973

-45.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.11 PKR 867

$4.39 PKR 1,225

-29.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.03 PKR 288

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.82 PKR 230

-32.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 166

$0.94 PKR 263

-37.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.56 PKR 155

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.6

$0.38 PKR 106

-10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.53 PKR 147

-26.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.33 PKR 92.5

78.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.37 PKR 104

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.46 PKR 407

$1.96 PKR 547

-25.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.92 PKR 255

1.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 551

$1.98 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 PKR 503

$2.07 PKR 578

-13.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.1

$0.17 PKR 46.57

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.12 PKR 1,985

$6.98 PKR 1,945

2.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 288

$0.92 PKR 255

11.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 PKR 85.5

$0.41 PKR 113

-24.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.75 PKR 767

-36.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 269

$0.98 PKR 274

-2.04%

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

$21.7K PKR 6.1M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

2.11%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-20.34%

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

$59.0 PKR 16.5K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-47.04%

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

$2.26 PKR 631

$5.52 PKR 1,538

-59.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.04 PKR 3,634

$18.67 PKR 5,203

-30.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.39 PKR 3,455

$22.27 PKR 6,207

-44.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.84 PKR 1,628

$5.85 PKR 1,630

-0.17%

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 PKR 991

$4.14 PKR 1,153

-14.25%

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

$28.44 PKR 7,929

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-53.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,139 PKR 317.4K

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

-59.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,508

$21.34 PKR 5,948

-24.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.18 PKR 6,184

$28.33 PKR 7,898

-21.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 PKR 16.7K

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

-33.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.80 PKR 7,192

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-36.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$55.8 PKR 15.6K

$200 PKR 55.7K

-72.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$30.29 PKR 8,444

$111 PKR 31.1K

-72.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.4K

$513 PKR 143.0K

-77.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.1 PKR 19.0K

$288 PKR 80.4K

-76.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 PKR 224.5K

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

-47.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$564 PKR 157.2K

$740 PKR 206.3K

-23.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $55.8 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $200 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 86% in total monthly costs ($293 vs $543 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 $439 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $814 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 $200 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 2% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $28.44 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $60.9 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 86% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.