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: $444 in Haroonabad versus $529 in Islamabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $661 in Haroonabad versus $835 in Islamabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $878 in Haroonabad versus $1,141 in Islamabad.

Living in Haroonabad costs roughly 16% less than in Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Haroonabad 67% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 PKR 602

$2.80 PKR 779

-22.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.76 PKR 2,993

$14.22 PKR 3,956

-24.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 PKR 1,207

$5.44 PKR 1,513

-20.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 PKR 801

$1.72 PKR 478

67.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 PKR 1,044

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-6.25%

Cappuccino

$2.38 PKR 661

$2.00 PKR 558

19.00%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.4

$0.43 PKR 119

-18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.94 PKR 260

1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.62 PKR 173

-6.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.21 PKR 338

-4.13%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.87 PKR 1,633

$6.07 PKR 1,690

-3.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.43 PKR 676

$3.39 PKR 942

-28.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.43 PKR 1,232

$4.38 PKR 1,219

1.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 282

$1.03 PKR 287

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.78 PKR 216

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.93 PKR 260

-34.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.60 PKR 166

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.8

$0.41 PKR 115

-19.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.54 PKR 149

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.34 PKR 93.3

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.37 PKR 103

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 PKR 246

$1.93 PKR 538

-54.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.90 PKR 251

-43.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 307

$1.99 PKR 553

-44.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$2.14 PKR 596

-10.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 PKR 42.95

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.09 PKR 1,972

$6.90 PKR 1,921

2.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.86 PKR 239

-15.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.44 PKR 122

11.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.81 PKR 782

-35.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.91 PKR 254

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-16.34%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-12.40%

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

$137 PKR 38.1K

$112 PKR 31.1K

22.52%

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

$5.34 PKR 1,487

$5.44 PKR 1,513

-1.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.49 PKR 2,919

$18.81 PKR 5,235

-44.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.37 PKR 3,441

$22.19 PKR 6,176

-44.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,628

$6.04 PKR 1,680

-3.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 PKR 1,150

$4.21 PKR 1,172

-1.90%

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

$10.58 PKR 2,944

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-82.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,043 PKR 290.3K

$2,805 PKR 780.4K

-62.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.74 PKR 2,989

$21.57 PKR 6,001

-50.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.47 PKR 6,254

$27.63 PKR 7,688

-18.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-17.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.15 PKR 7,834

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-29.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.0 PKR 21.1K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-61.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.9K

$513 PKR 142.7K

-67.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.3K

$296 PKR 82.4K

-64.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$928 PKR 258.2K

$1,551 PKR 431.6K

-40.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$532 PKR 148.1K

$657 PKR 183.0K

-19.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.2

-1.58%

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

Last update for Haroonabad: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.0 in Haroonabad and $198 in Islamabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Haroonabad vs $14.00 in Islamabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $90.0 vs $98.0 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 19% 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 $667 in Haroonabad and $794 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: $76.0 in Haroonabad versus $198 in Islamabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $10.58 in Haroonabad versus $60.3 in Islamabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% 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 19% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.