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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Islamabad vs $311 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Islamabad vs $482 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Islamabad vs $653 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 71% 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 803

$1.74 PKR 483

66.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$12.20 PKR 3,386

15.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$5.24 PKR 1,456

3.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$1.79 PKR 497

-1.68%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$1.80 PKR 499

110.56%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.37 PKR 380

44.53%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.31 PKR 84.9

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.79 PKR 219

29.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.63 PKR 174

-1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.16 PKR 323

5.17%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.20 PKR 333

1.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$3.59 PKR 995

68.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$2.34 PKR 649

44.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$4.47 PKR 1,241

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.91 PKR 253

9.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.79 PKR 219

6.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.82 PKR 227

13.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.53 PKR 147

7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.30 PKR 82.9

36.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.48 PKR 133

20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.31 PKR 84.9

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.18 PKR 51.1

105.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.00 PKR 555

-5.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.87 PKR 241

-2.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$2.04 PKR 566

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$1.80 PKR 499

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.24 PKR 66.5

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$6.89 PKR 1,912

4.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.92 PKR 255

-8.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.41 PKR 112

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$2.89 PKR 803

-0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.97 PKR 270

-4.12%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.8M

0.10%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

1.74%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$43.43 PKR 12.1K

160.17%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$3.00 PKR 832

79.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$18.74 PKR 5,202

-0.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$17.49 PKR 4,855

30.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$3.49 PKR 967

72.49%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$4.36 PKR 1,211

-0.23%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$35.95 PKR 9,977

68.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$540 PKR 150.0K

416.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$8.90 PKR 2,471

137.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,806

$7.26 PKR 2,015

287.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$87.7 PKR 24.3K

2.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$12.53 PKR 3,477

220.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$35.68 PKR 9,901

453.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$20.88 PKR 5,795

425.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$166 PKR 46.0K

209.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$41.81 PKR 11.6K

616.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

$236 PKR 65.4K

64.44%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $35.68 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 64% 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 $80.0 – 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 71% 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 $798 per month in Islamabad and $466 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 4% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $60.5 per month in Islamabad and $35.95 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 $532 in Islamabad and $311 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.