Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujranwala and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujranwala and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $395 per month in Gujranwala vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $624 per month in Gujranwala vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $853 per month in Gujranwala vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Gujranwala is about 33% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Gujranwala and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Gujranwala 71% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 PKR 992

$3.57 PKR 989

0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.47 PKR 3,458

$22.74 PKR 6,305

-45.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 PKR 1,511

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-0.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 PKR 247

$3.55 PKR 985

-74.93%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.75 PKR 1,873

$6.71 PKR 1,861

0.60%

Cappuccino

$1.14 PKR 315

$2.39 PKR 663

-52.30%

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

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.32 PKR 90.0

-34.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 44.89

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-27.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.99 PKR 275

-13.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 PKR 202

$0.79 PKR 219

-7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 314

$1.28 PKR 354

-11.72%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.28 PKR 356

-0.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,676

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-0.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 659

$3.06 PKR 848

-22.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 PKR 1,438

$5.12 PKR 1,420

1.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 373

$1.34 PKR 371

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 PKR 230

$0.84 PKR 232

-1.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 255

$1.02 PKR 282

-9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.49 PKR 135

-2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 73.8

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 101

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.90 PKR 528

-4.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 305

$1.38 PKR 383

-20.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PKR 671

$2.35 PKR 651

2.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 PKR 606

$2.28 PKR 632

-4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.1

$0.16 PKR 44.29

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 PKR 262

$1.27 PKR 353

-25.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.69 PKR 191

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 PKR 405

$1.65 PKR 458

-11.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.32 PKR 365

-13.64%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-66.61%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-14.87%

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

$102 PKR 28.1K

$102 PKR 28.3K

-0.59%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,522

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,529

$16.34 PKR 4,531

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.18 PKR 1,989

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-75.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,646

$8.93 PKR 2,477

-33.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 PKR 1,175

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-15.37%

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

$28.01 PKR 7,765

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-62.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$961 PKR 266.5K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-81.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.42 PKR 3,998

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-38.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 PKR 6,916

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-23.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.4 PKR 20.3K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-12.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.45 PKR 9,275

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-14.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$54.7 PKR 15.2K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-80.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$31.57 PKR 8,754

$144 PKR 40.0K

-78.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 PKR 44.8K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-71.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.7 PKR 26.8K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-63.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$238 PKR 66.0K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-37.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

13.08

-12.08%

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

Last update for Gujranwala: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $54.7 in Gujranwala versus $277 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 60% 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 $12.00 in Gujranwala versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $96.0 vs $103 – making Gujranwala 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

Gujranwala vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $395 in Gujranwala, $589 in Islamabad – roughly 49% apart. Islamabad costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $593 per month in Gujranwala and $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Gujranwala and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $395 in Gujranwala and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Gujranwala – 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 Gujranwala. 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.