Cost of Living Comparison Between Haroonabad and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Haroonabad and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $488 in Haroonabad versus $589 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $716 in Haroonabad versus $918 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $945 in Haroonabad versus $1,246 in Islamabad.

Living in Haroonabad costs roughly 17% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Haroonabad 64% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 710

$3.57 PKR 989

-28.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.84 PKR 3,005

$22.74 PKR 6,304

-52.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 PKR 1,582

$5.47 PKR 1,516

4.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 PKR 1,019

$3.55 PKR 985

3.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.25 PKR 1,456

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-21.76%

Cappuccino

$2.49 PKR 689

$2.39 PKR 663

4.18%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.32 PKR 90.0

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.5

$0.22 PKR 60.8

18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.99 PKR 275

-8.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 185

$0.79 PKR 219

-15.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.28 PKR 354

-7.81%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.28 PKR 356

-3.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.31 PKR 1,750

$6.11 PKR 1,694

3.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 PKR 698

$3.06 PKR 848

-17.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 PKR 1,318

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-7.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.34 PKR 371

-13.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.84 PKR 232

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 227

$1.02 PKR 282

-19.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.49 PKR 135

30.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 77.0

$0.29 PKR 81.1

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.3

$0.33 PKR 90.4

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.29 PKR 80.8

65.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 293

$1.90 PKR 528

-44.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 PKR 167

$1.38 PKR 383

-56.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PKR 456

$2.35 PKR 651

-29.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 581

$2.28 PKR 632

-7.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.04

$0.16 PKR 44.28

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.60 PKR 2,938

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-50.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 244

$1.27 PKR 353

-30.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.69 PKR 191

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 PKR 509

$1.65 PKR 458

11.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.32 PKR 365

-3.03%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-66.36%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

6.12%

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

$121 PKR 33.5K

$102 PKR 28.3K

18.41%

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

$5.38 PKR 1,493

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-7.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.67 PKR 2,958

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-34.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.17 PKR 4,205

$29.09 PKR 8,065

-47.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 PKR 1,224

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-11.98%

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

$10.84 PKR 3,004

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-85.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,062 PKR 294.5K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-79.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.66 PKR 2,956

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-54.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.55 PKR 7,084

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-21.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-11.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.50 PKR 7,901

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-27.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-55.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.3 PKR 23.4K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-41.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 PKR 68.6K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-57.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$163 PKR 45.1K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-38.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$834 PKR 231.3K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-48.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$588 PKR 163.1K

$829 PKR 229.9K

-29.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

13.08

8.72%

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

Last update for Haroonabad: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Haroonabad and $277 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Haroonabad vs $23.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $103 per month, with Haroonabad 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

Haroonabad vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Haroonabad wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Islamabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Haroonabad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $732 in Haroonabad and $884 in Islamabad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Haroonabad versus $277 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $10.84 in Haroonabad versus $75.0 in Islamabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Islamabad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Haroonabad 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, Haroonabad 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 Haroonabad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.