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: $416 in Dhaka versus $534 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $705 in Dhaka versus $847 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $995 in Dhaka versus $1,160 in Islamabad.

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 22% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.50 ৳309

$2.85 PKR 791

-12.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.59 ৳1,552

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-11.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ৳614

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-8.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 ৳491

$1.72 PKR 477

131.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ৳590

$3.82 PKR 1,061

25.39%

Cappuccino

$2.20 ৳271

$1.97 PKR 547

11.68%

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

$0.34 ৳42.36

$0.40 PKR 110

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ৳23.65

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-20.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 ৳101

$0.96 PKR 268

-14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 ৳86.6

$0.66 PKR 183

6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ৳80.2

$1.28 PKR 355

-49.22%

Eggs

$1.26 ৳155

$1.20 PKR 334

5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.97 ৳859

$6.07 PKR 1,687

14.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ৳417

$3.37 PKR 937

0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 ৳794

$4.35 PKR 1,209

48.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 ৳350

$1.04 PKR 289

173.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ৳139

$0.84 PKR 234

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 ৳314

$0.91 PKR 253

180.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 ৳111

$0.56 PKR 156

60.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 ৳53.0

$0.41 PKR 115

4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 ৳103

$0.57 PKR 158

45.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 ৳40.31

$0.31 PKR 85.4

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.46

$0.41 PKR 113

-26.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.03 ৳1,483

$2.00 PKR 555

501.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 ৳482

$0.93 PKR 258

320.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 ৳879

$2.04 PKR 567

249.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ৳369

$2.14 PKR 595

39.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ৳52.8

$0.17 PKR 46.51

152.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.18 ৳2,980

$7.22 PKR 2,006

234.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ৳149

$0.85 PKR 236

42.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.9

$0.43 PKR 120

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 ৳388

$2.79 PKR 775

12.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ৳127

$0.98 PKR 271

5.10%

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

$29.3K ৳3.6M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

40.12%

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

$28.4K ৳3.5M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

9.54%

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

$32.72 ৳4,033

$114 PKR 31.6K

-71.22%

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

$4.78 ৳589

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-11.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.15 ৳1,621

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-29.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.26 ৳2,374

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-12.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.25 ৳1,757

$6.12 PKR 1,699

132.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ৳492

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-3.62%

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

$48.08 ৳5,926

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-20.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,996 ৳246.0K

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

-27.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.81 ৳2,319

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-10.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.73 ৳2,925

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-14.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 ৳5,700

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-47.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.71 ৳4,524

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-10.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 ৳14.5K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-40.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.3 ৳7,800

$110 PKR 30.5K

-42.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 ৳38.0K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-38.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 ৳23.4K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-36.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 ৳193.3K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

3.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$764 ৳94.2K

$647 PKR 179.8K

18.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 ৳34.2K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-27.87%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Dhaka and $199 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 39% 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 $100, 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Islamabad. 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: $118 in Dhaka versus $199 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $416 per month in Dhaka versus $534 in Islamabad – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 235% 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 29% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.