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: $431 in Dhaka versus $589 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $738 in Dhaka versus $918 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,044 in Dhaka versus $1,246 in Islamabad.

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 27% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 ৳292

$3.57 PKR 990

-33.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.72 ৳1,559

$22.74 PKR 6,309

-44.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ৳609

$5.47 PKR 1,517

-9.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.74 ৳581

$3.55 PKR 986

33.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 ৳496

$6.71 PKR 1,862

-39.64%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ৳288

$2.39 PKR 663

-1.67%

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

$0.32 ৳39.35

$0.32 PKR 90.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ৳23.34

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ৳95.8

$0.99 PKR 275

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ৳73.3

$0.79 PKR 220

-24.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 ৳83.4

$1.28 PKR 354

-46.88%

Eggs

$1.17 ৳143

$1.28 PKR 356

-8.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 ৳1,125

$6.11 PKR 1,695

50.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 ৳406

$3.06 PKR 849

8.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.80 ৳833

$5.12 PKR 1,421

32.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 ৳344

$1.34 PKR 371

108.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 ৳113

$0.84 PKR 232

9.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ৳284

$1.02 PKR 282

127.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 ৳75.9

$0.49 PKR 135

26.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.23 ৳27.95

$0.29 PKR 81.2

-20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ৳64.3

$0.33 PKR 90.4

57.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳42.29

$0.29 PKR 80.8

20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ৳35.51

$0.38 PKR 106

-23.68%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.43 ৳1,523

$1.90 PKR 528

554.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.54 ৳679

$1.38 PKR 383

301.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 ৳801

$2.35 PKR 652

178.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ৳410

$2.28 PKR 632

46.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ৳48.88

$0.16 PKR 44.31

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.95 ৳2,812

$21.23 PKR 5,889

8.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ৳147

$1.27 PKR 353

-5.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.7

$0.69 PKR 191

-37.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 ৳405

$1.65 PKR 459

100.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ৳130

$1.32 PKR 365

-19.70%

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

$29.7K ৳3.6M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-44.99%

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

$32.0K ৳3.9M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

27.53%

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

$45.69 ৳5,597

$102 PKR 28.3K

-55.25%

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

$4.10 ৳503

$5.83 PKR 1,618

-29.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.54 ৳1,413

$16.34 PKR 4,534

-29.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.84 ৳2,063

$29.09 PKR 8,071

-42.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.98 ৳1,836

$8.93 PKR 2,478

67.75%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ৳489

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-20.36%

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

$96.1 ৳11.8K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

28.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,694 ৳330.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-47.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.09 ৳2,094

$23.55 PKR 6,532

-27.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.57 ৳2,397

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-40.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 ৳6,286

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-38.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.19 ৳4,557

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-5.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 ৳18.1K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-46.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.2 ৳8,598

$144 PKR 40.0K

-51.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 ৳54.1K

$577 PKR 160.1K

-23.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 ৳27.0K

$266 PKR 73.9K

-17.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,602 ৳196.3K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

-1.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$769 ৳94.2K

$829 PKR 230.1K

-7.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 ৳30.8K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-34.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.44

13.08

-20.18%

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

Last update for Dhaka: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $147 in Dhaka and $277 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 52% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Groceries flip the comparison at $124 vs $103, 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 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 52% 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: $147 in Dhaka versus $277 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $431 per month in Dhaka versus $589 in Islamabad – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 8% 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 37% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.