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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $533 per month in Islamabad vs $307 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Islamabad vs $489 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,166 per month in Islamabad vs $671 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 74% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Abbottabad 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$1.80 PKR 500

60.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.01 PKR 3,894

$12.27 PKR 3,412

14.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,487

$5.25 PKR 1,459

1.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.81 PKR 502

-3.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PKR 1,105

$1.79 PKR 498

121.79%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PKR 561

$1.44 PKR 401

40.28%

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

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.34 PKR 93.3

14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.76 PKR 211

34.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.61 PKR 170

8.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.15 PKR 321

10.43%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.18 PKR 328

4.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,675

$3.46 PKR 963

73.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 PKR 948

$2.28 PKR 633

49.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,260

$4.53 PKR 1,261

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$0.85 PKR 237

21.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.73 PKR 204

15.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.82 PKR 228

9.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.51 PKR 141

7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.30 PKR 82.6

26.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.51 PKR 143

9.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.31 PKR 85.9

-3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.18 PKR 49.12

127.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.94 PKR 539

2.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.91 PKR 252

2.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 560

$1.98 PKR 551

1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 598

$1.73 PKR 481

24.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.8

$0.26 PKR 72.8

-26.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,933

$6.88 PKR 1,914

1.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.86 PKR 240

-1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.44 PKR 122

-6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 781

$2.78 PKR 773

1.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.89 PKR 247

6.74%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

0.85%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

0.31%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$44.07 PKR 12.3K

153.85%

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

$5.36 PKR 1,492

$3.06 PKR 850

75.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.59 PKR 5,168

$18.81 PKR 5,231

-1.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.15 PKR 6,158

$17.35 PKR 4,823

27.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 PKR 1,638

$3.43 PKR 955

71.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.32 PKR 1,202

0.46%

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

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

$34.78 PKR 9,669

70.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

$541 PKR 150.4K

414.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.12 PKR 5,873

$9.03 PKR 2,510

133.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.99 PKR 7,782

$7.03 PKR 1,954

298.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

$89.0 PKR 24.7K

-1.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

$12.52 PKR 3,480

215.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 56.0K

$36.06 PKR 10.0K

458.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.0K

$20.86 PKR 5,799

435.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.2K

$164 PKR 45.5K

214.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$42.81 PKR 11.9K

596.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 PKR 179.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

$238 PKR 66.1K

59.07%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Islamabad versus $36.06 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 59% 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: $100 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 74% 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 $799 per month in Islamabad and $460 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 $59.4 per month in Islamabad and $34.78 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 $533 in Islamabad and $307 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.