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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $349 per month in Faisalabad vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $548 per month in Faisalabad vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $746 per month in Faisalabad vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Faisalabad is about 35% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Faisalabad and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Faisalabad 74% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 495

$2.85 PKR 791

-37.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.58 PKR 2,937

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-25.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 PKR 958

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-36.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PKR 769

$1.72 PKR 477

61.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 PKR 1,303

$3.82 PKR 1,061

22.77%

Cappuccino

$1.46 PKR 406

$1.97 PKR 547

-25.89%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.40 PKR 110

-17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.7

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.96 PKR 268

-26.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.66 PKR 183

-4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 349

$1.28 PKR 355

-1.56%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.20 PKR 334

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$6.07 PKR 1,687

18.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 PKR 733

$3.37 PKR 937

-21.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 907

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-24.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.04 PKR 289

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.84 PKR 234

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.91 PKR 253

-31.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.56 PKR 156

-5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.8

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.31 PKR 85.4

87.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.41 PKR 113

4.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 PKR 286

$2.00 PKR 555

-48.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.93 PKR 258

-22.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 970

$2.04 PKR 567

71.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 529

$2.14 PKR 595

-11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.3

$0.17 PKR 46.51

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.52 PKR 978

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-51.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.85 PKR 236

22.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.43 PKR 120

-16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 500

$2.79 PKR 775

-35.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.98 PKR 271

-1.02%

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

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

5.07%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-19.22%

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

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-47.99%

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

$3.76 PKR 1,045

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-30.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.89 PKR 3,578

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-31.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.16 PKR 4,209

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-31.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.77 PKR 2,990

$6.12 PKR 1,698

75.98%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-16.18%

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

$28.39 PKR 7,883

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-52.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,144 PKR 317.5K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-58.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.26 PKR 4,516

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-22.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.92 PKR 6,087

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-20.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-32.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.61 PKR 7,112

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-37.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.6 PKR 19.9K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-64.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$47.84 PKR 13.3K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-56.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$146 PKR 40.6K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-71.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-64.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$535 PKR 148.6K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-64.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$250 PKR 69.6K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-61.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 PKR 52.6K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-50.76%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.6 in Faisalabad versus $199 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 103% 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 $100 – 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 53% 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 $801 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 10% 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 $349 in Faisalabad and $534 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.