Cost of Living Comparison Between Ishkashim and Kabul Cost of Living Comparison Between Ishkashim and Kabul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $182 in Ishkashim versus $416 in Kabul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $321 in Ishkashim versus $602 in Kabul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $460 in Ishkashim versus $787 in Kabul.

Living in Ishkashim costs roughly 56% less than in Kabul, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ishkashim 86% lower, Kabul 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.61 ؋229

$2.53 ؋161

42.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$6.98 ؋443

$10.74 ؋682

-35.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.37 ؋278

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ؋231

$2.24 ؋143

62.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ؋185

$1.68 ؋107

73.21%

Cappuccino

$1.01 ؋64.0

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

$0.45 ؋28.47

$0.36 ؋22.93

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ؋9.02

$0.13 ؋8.10

7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 ؋53.5

$0.71 ؋44.85

18.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 ؋19.11

$0.21 ؋13.14

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ؋93.9

$1.70 ؋108

-12.94%

Eggs

$1.76 ؋112

$1.42 ؋90.0

23.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.89 ؋184

$3.84 ؋244

-24.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ؋324

$3.35 ؋213

52.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.87 ؋373

$6.00 ؋381

-2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 ؋51.3

$0.53 ؋33.75

52.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ؋65.1

$0.80 ؋50.8

27.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 ؋65.5

$0.75 ؋47.84

37.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ؋72.2

$0.46 ؋29.36

147.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 ؋21.82

$0.48 ؋30.44

-29.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ؋23.52

$0.43 ؋26.99

-13.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 ؋14.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ؋35.37

$0.33 ؋20.72

69.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.97 ؋125

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ؋59.5

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ؋93.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.68 ؋43.47

$2.64 ؋168

-74.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ؋13.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.18 ؋901

$9.87 ؋627

43.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 ؋112

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 ؋35.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ؋164

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ؋89.0

$0.95 ؋60.1

47.37%

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

$8,795 ؋558.5K

$7,763 ؋493.0K

13.29%

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

$32.1K ؋2.0M

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

$50.3 ؋3,196

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

$13.77 ؋874

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.6 ؋5,819

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.18 ؋456

$9.06 ؋575

-20.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.88 ؋247

Cinema Ticket

$2.21 ؋140

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

$18.18 ؋1,155

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,414 ؋89.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.48 ؋1,618

$9.57 ؋608

166.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.05 ؋1,845

$17.44 ؋1,108

66.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.79 ؋2,082

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.41 ؋1,804

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 ؋5,398

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.5 ؋3,715

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 ؋12.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 ؋7,037

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$732 ؋46.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$410 ؋26.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$351 ؋22.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

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

Last update for Ishkashim: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kabul: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $7.00 in Ishkashim vs $11.00 in Kabul. Groceries flip the comparison at $105 vs $88.0, with Kabul cheaper for home cooking.

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

Ishkashim vs Kabul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ishkashim wins on cost – living expenses run 128% lower than in Kabul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ishkashim the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $273 in Ishkashim and $624 in Kabul 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Ishkashim – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $11.00 in Kabul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Ishkashim runs roughly 44% less than in Kabul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ishkashim 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.

Expats usually find Ishkashim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Kabul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.