Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujrat and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujrat and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $346 in Gujrat versus $529 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $536 in Gujrat versus $835 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $726 in Gujrat versus $1,141 in Islamabad.

Living in Gujrat costs roughly 35% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gujrat 74% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.80 PKR 779

-37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.70 PKR 2,977

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-24.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 PKR 992

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-34.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

$1.72 PKR 478

61.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 PKR 1,297

$4.00 PKR 1,112

16.50%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 419

$2.00 PKR 557

-24.50%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.43 PKR 119

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 198

$0.94 PKR 260

-24.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.62 PKR 173

-1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.21 PKR 338

4.96%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 318

$1.20 PKR 335

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.46 PKR 2,076

$6.07 PKR 1,689

22.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 740

$3.39 PKR 942

-21.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.21 PKR 893

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-26.71%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.03 PKR 287

-4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.78 PKR 216

-29.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.93 PKR 260

-32.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.60 PKR 166

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.41 PKR 115

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.54 PKR 149

-3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.34 PKR 93.3

73.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.37 PKR 103

8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 PKR 281

$1.93 PKR 537

-47.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.90 PKR 251

-17.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.99 PKR 552

-1.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.14 PKR 596

-14.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.52

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,923

$6.90 PKR 1,921

0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 300

$0.86 PKR 238

25.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.81 PKR 782

-38.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 277

$0.91 PKR 253

9.89%

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

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

1.47%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-20.01%

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

$57.3 PKR 15.9K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-48.70%

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

$3.89 PKR 1,082

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-28.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.92 PKR 3,596

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-31.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.25 PKR 3,408

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-44.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,641

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-2.32%

Cinema Ticket

$3.50 PKR 974

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-16.86%

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

$28.20 PKR 7,845

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-53.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,149 PKR 319.7K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-59.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.28 PKR 4,530

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-24.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.09 PKR 6,145

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-20.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.9 PKR 16.7K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-32.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.16 PKR 7,278

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-34.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.1 PKR 20.6K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-62.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.5K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.5K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-68.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-64.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,043 PKR 290.2K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-32.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 PKR 148.6K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-18.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 PKR 68.4K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-36.52%

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 Gujrat: May 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.1 in Gujrat and $198 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 58% 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: $11.00 in Gujrat vs $14.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $91.0 vs $98.0 per month, with Gujrat cheaper across the board.

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

Gujrat vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gujrat and Islamabad differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($346 vs $529 including rent). Gujrat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Islamabad earns 58% less. 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: $74.1 in Gujrat versus $198 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Gujrat – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Islamabad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $346 per month in Gujrat versus $529 in Islamabad – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Gujrat 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, Gujrat 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 Gujrat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.