Cost of Living Comparison Between Faisalabad and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Faisalabad and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $350 per month in Faisalabad vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $540 per month in Faisalabad vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $730 per month in Faisalabad vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Faisalabad is about 34% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Faisalabad and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Faisalabad 74% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 483

$2.80 PKR 779

-37.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,990

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-24.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 PKR 990

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-34.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 PKR 784

$1.72 PKR 478

63.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 PKR 1,310

$4.00 PKR 1,112

17.75%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 418

$2.00 PKR 557

-25.00%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.43 PKR 119

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 213

$0.94 PKR 260

-19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.62 PKR 173

3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.21 PKR 338

4.96%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.20 PKR 335

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.10 PKR 1,974

$6.07 PKR 1,689

16.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 PKR 734

$3.39 PKR 942

-22.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.14 PKR 872

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-28.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 284

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.78 PKR 216

-29.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.93 PKR 260

-27.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.60 PKR 166

-13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.41 PKR 115

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.54 PKR 149

1.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.34 PKR 93.3

88.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.37 PKR 103

8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.93 PKR 537

-49.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$0.90 PKR 251

-24.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PKR 956

$1.99 PKR 552

72.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 PKR 514

$2.14 PKR 596

-13.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 45.99

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.47 PKR 964

$6.90 PKR 1,920

-49.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 302

$0.86 PKR 238

26.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.44 PKR 122

-15.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 480

$2.81 PKR 782

-38.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.91 PKR 253

5.49%

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

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

1.32%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-18.38%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.1K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-48.33%

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

$3.75 PKR 1,042

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-31.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,604

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-31.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.85 PKR 4,130

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-33.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.76 PKR 2,994

$6.04 PKR 1,679

78.15%

Cinema Ticket

$3.50 PKR 974

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-16.86%

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

$28.40 PKR 7,899

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-52.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,119 PKR 311.3K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-60.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,435

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-26.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.28 PKR 6,198

$27.63 PKR 7,685

-19.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-31.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.64 PKR 7,134

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-35.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$70.6 PKR 19.6K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-64.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$47.75 PKR 13.3K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-57.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.7K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-70.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-63.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$537 PKR 149.4K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-65.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$256 PKR 71.3K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-61.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$194 PKR 53.9K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-50.01%

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 Faisalabad: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $70.6 in Faisalabad versus $198 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 100% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Faisalabad versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $91.0 vs $98.0 – making Faisalabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Faisalabad vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 51% more than Faisalabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $524 per month in Faisalabad and $794 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Faisalabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Faisalabad and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $350 in Faisalabad and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Faisalabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Faisalabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.