Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $417 in Dhaka versus $529 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $707 in Dhaka versus $835 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $997 in Dhaka versus $1,141 in Islamabad.

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 21% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳295

$2.80 PKR 779

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.97 ৳1,591

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-8.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ৳599

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-10.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 ৳489

$1.72 PKR 478

131.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 ৳614

$4.00 PKR 1,112

25.25%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ৳278

$2.00 PKR 557

13.50%

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

$0.32 ৳38.76

$0.43 PKR 119

-25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ৳17.91

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-31.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 ৳101

$0.94 PKR 260

-11.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ৳86.5

$0.62 PKR 173

14.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ৳80.3

$1.21 PKR 338

-46.28%

Eggs

$1.29 ৳158

$1.20 PKR 335

7.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.74 ৳827

$6.07 PKR 1,689

11.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.45 ৳423

$3.39 PKR 942

1.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.66 ৳817

$4.38 PKR 1,218

52.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ৳336

$1.03 PKR 287

166.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 ৳140

$0.78 PKR 216

46.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ৳327

$0.93 PKR 260

187.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ৳111

$0.60 PKR 166

51.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 ৳53.7

$0.41 PKR 115

7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ৳96.6

$0.54 PKR 149

46.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳43.42

$0.34 PKR 93.3

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.07

$0.37 PKR 103

-18.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.06 ৳1,480

$1.93 PKR 537

524.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 ৳477

$0.90 PKR 251

332.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 ৳850

$1.99 PKR 552

248.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ৳372

$2.14 PKR 596

41.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ৳48.34

$0.19 PKR 52.2

105.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.89 ৳3,054

$6.90 PKR 1,920

260.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ৳149

$0.86 PKR 238

41.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.7

$0.44 PKR 122

-2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 ৳375

$2.81 PKR 782

8.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ৳127

$0.91 PKR 253

14.29%

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

$28.9K ৳3.5M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

34.25%

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

$28.5K ৳3.5M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

9.17%

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

$32.66 ৳4,006

$112 PKR 31.1K

-70.77%

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

$4.75 ৳583

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-12.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.98 ৳1,593

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-30.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.31 ৳2,369

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-12.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.78 ৳1,813

$6.04 PKR 1,679

144.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 ৳504

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-2.38%

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

$46.92 ৳5,756

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-22.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ৳242.8K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-29.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.61 ৳2,283

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-13.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.19 ৳2,967

$27.63 PKR 7,685

-12.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.70 ৳5,728

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-46.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.80 ৳4,514

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-7.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ৳14.3K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-41.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.5 ৳7,785

$112 PKR 31.1K

-43.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 ৳38.8K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-38.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 ৳22.5K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-37.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,493 ৳183.2K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-3.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$659 ৳80.8K

$657 PKR 182.9K

0.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 ৳35.1K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-26.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

20.2

-47.92%

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

Last update for Dhaka: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Dhaka and $198 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Dhaka vs $14.00 in Islamabad. Groceries flip the comparison at $124 vs $98.0, with Islamabad cheaper for home cooking.

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

Dhaka vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Islamabad earns 36% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Dhaka versus $198 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $417 per month in Dhaka versus $529 in Islamabad – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 261% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dhaka 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, Dhaka 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 Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.