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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $312 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $495 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $677 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 90% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Abbottabad 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$1.84 PKR 511

93.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,430

$10.79 PKR 2,988

115.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.31 PKR 1,472

2.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.55 PKR 982

4.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,865

$1.79 PKR 496

275.98%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.24 PKR 343

102.42%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.0

$0.33 PKR 90.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.80 PKR 221

17.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.74 PKR 206

1.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.24 PKR 342

0.81%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.19 PKR 330

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$3.64 PKR 1,008

66.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.31 PKR 640

38.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$5.39 PKR 1,494

1.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.05 PKR 291

19.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.86 PKR 238

-5.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.87 PKR 240

18.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.44 PKR 121

18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.24 PKR 65.9

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.6

$0.33 PKR 90.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.30 PKR 84.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.32 PKR 88.6

31.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.97 PKR 546

2.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.18 PKR 327

5.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

$2.59 PKR 717

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$1.71 PKR 473

35.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.24 PKR 66.0

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.27 PKR 352

1.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.34 PKR 95.0

117.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.60 PKR 443

0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.09 PKR 303

14.68%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

153.13%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

0.03%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$54.6 PKR 15.1K

91.26%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$3.58 PKR 992

64.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,480

$12.54 PKR 3,473

29.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,950

$13.36 PKR 3,701

114.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

$3.67 PKR 1,016

130.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.43 PKR 1,227

-1.35%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$27.51 PKR 7,618

172.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$522 PKR 144.6K

874.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,946

$9.05 PKR 2,507

177.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,725

$7.19 PKR 1,992

388.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$96.0 PKR 26.6K

1.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$10.96 PKR 3,037

264.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$35.60 PKR 9,860

681.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$22.01 PKR 6,097

527.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$110 PKR 30.4K

438.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.7K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

422.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$195 PKR 54.0K

94.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $35.60 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 94% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Abbottabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $86.0 – 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 90% 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $469 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $11.00 in Abbottabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $593 in Islamabad and $312 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.