Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Abbottabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Abbottabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $310 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $480 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $651 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 75% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Abbottabad 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.72 PKR 479

66.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$12.32 PKR 3,435

15.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$5.19 PKR 1,447

0.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$1.74 PKR 485

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$1.74 PKR 485

119.54%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.39 PKR 388

47.48%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 92.4

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.21 PKR 58.3

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.77 PKR 213

24.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.66 PKR 184

-7.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.15 PKR 319

10.43%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.22 PKR 340

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$3.45 PKR 963

78.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$2.31 PKR 644

51.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$4.33 PKR 1,207

1.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$0.84 PKR 235

22.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.73 PKR 203

12.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.77 PKR 215

22.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.50 PKR 140

12.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.32 PKR 90.2

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.52 PKR 146

1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.34 PKR 93.6

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.16 PKR 44.00

131.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.99 PKR 554

-1.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.86 PKR 241

6.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$1.96 PKR 547

1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$1.73 PKR 483

19.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.26 PKR 72.6

-34.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$7.03 PKR 1,959

-0.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.87 PKR 242

5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.44 PKR 122

-6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$2.77 PKR 773

-0.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.89 PKR 249

10.11%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.0K PKR 5.9M

1.41%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-0.82%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$43.79 PKR 12.2K

154.53%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$2.95 PKR 822

87.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$18.35 PKR 5,115

1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$17.88 PKR 4,984

24.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$3.44 PKR 958

70.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$4.27 PKR 1,191

-3.04%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$34.83 PKR 9,709

74.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$524 PKR 146.1K

430.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$8.80 PKR 2,452

142.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$7.18 PKR 2,003

294.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$12.54 PKR 3,496

226.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$35.46 PKR 9,885

463.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$21.61 PKR 6,023

415.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$164 PKR 45.8K

212.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$42.10 PKR 11.7K

584.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

$230 PKR 64.0K

33.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $35.46 in Abbottabad. 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 34% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $12.00 in Abbottabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99.0 vs $78.0 – making Abbottabad 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

Islamabad vs Abbottabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 75% more than Abbottabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $814 per month in Islamabad and $464 in Abbottabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 1% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $60.9 per month in Islamabad and $34.83 in Abbottabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $543 in Islamabad and $310 in Abbottabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Abbottabad – 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 Abbottabad. 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.