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

🙂 Solo nomad: Dhaka is 0.2% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dhaka is 5.8% more expensive than Islamabad without rent, and 12.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.48 ৳305
$2.76 PKR 771
-10.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.97 ৳1,594
$14.25 PKR 3,975
-8.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 ৳615
$5.32 PKR 1,485
-6.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.22 ৳519
$1.73 PKR 482
143.93%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80 ৳590
$3.98 PKR 1,109
20.60%
Cappuccino
$2.25 ৳277
$2.08 PKR 581
8.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ৳41.96
$0.42 PKR 118
-19.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.41
$0.24 PKR 67.2
-33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 ৳93.0
$0.97 PKR 269
-21.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 ৳80.9
$0.66 PKR 185
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.64 ৳78.9
$1.26 PKR 352
-49.21%
Eggs
$1.26 ৳154
$1.27 PKR 355
-0.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.77 ৳832
$6.02 PKR 1,680
12.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.51 ৳432
$3.43 PKR 958
2.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.75 ৳830
$4.40 PKR 1,227
53.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 ৳347
$1.00 PKR 280
182.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 ৳133
$0.85 PKR 236
27.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 ৳315
$0.90 PKR 251
185.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.84 ৳103
$0.57 PKR 158
47.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.43 ৳52.8
$0.38 PKR 106
13.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 ৳95.8
$0.57 PKR 160
36.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳43.21
$0.33 PKR 93.0
6.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.05
$0.37 PKR 104
-18.92%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.29 ৳1,512
$1.91 PKR 534
543.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.01 ৳492
$0.91 PKR 255
340.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 ৳873
$2.03 PKR 566
249.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ৳365
$2.06 PKR 576
44.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.0
$0.18 PKR 50.4
133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.71 ৳3,038
$6.90 PKR 1,924
258.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 ৳154
$0.91 PKR 253
37.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 ৳51.7
$0.40 PKR 112
5.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ৳371
$2.87 PKR 802
4.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 ৳131
$0.92 PKR 258
16.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K ৳3.5M
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
37.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K ৳3.5M
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
8.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.95 ৳3,928
$111 PKR 31.1K
-71.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68 ৳576
$5.57 PKR 1,555
-15.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.88 ৳1,584
$18.70 PKR 5,218
-31.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.57 ৳2,406
$22.29 PKR 6,220
-12.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.62 ৳1,798
$5.86 PKR 1,634
149.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.20 ৳517
$4.30 PKR 1,200
-2.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.43 ৳5,954
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
-20.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,948 ৳239.5K
$2,738 PKR 764.0K
-28.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.25 ৳2,244
$21.38 PKR 5,965
-14.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.80 ৳2,926
$28.45 PKR 7,937
-16.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.15 ৳5,674
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
-48.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.07 ৳4,434
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
-10.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 ৳14.2K
$197 PKR 55.0K
-41.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$63.4 ৳7,797
$111 PKR 31.1K
-43.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$312 ৳38.4K
$505 PKR 140.8K
-38.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 ৳23.1K
$292 PKR 81.6K
-35.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,304 ৳160.3K
$1,535 PKR 428.2K
-15.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$615 ৳75.6K
$752 PKR 209.7K
-18.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$316 ৳38.8K
$304 PKR 84.7K
3.95%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026

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

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