Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Attock Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Attock

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $327 in Attock, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $522 in Attock, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $716 in Attock, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 63% more than Attock, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Islamabad and Attock are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Attock 75% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 PKR 791
$2.75 PKR 764
3.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.26 PKR 3,960
$9.25 PKR 2,569
54.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 PKR 1,511
$5.20 PKR 1,445
4.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 PKR 477
$1.76 PKR 488
-2.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 PKR 1,061
$3.83 PKR 1,062
-0.26%
Cappuccino
$1.97 PKR 547
$2.06 PKR 571
-4.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 110
$0.39 PKR 108
2.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 67.0
$0.22 PKR 60.9
9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 PKR 268
$0.58 PKR 160
65.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 PKR 183
$0.34 PKR 93.7
94.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PKR 355
$1.22 PKR 339
4.92%
Eggs
$1.20 PKR 334
$1.07 PKR 297
12.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.07 PKR 1,687
$6.27 PKR 1,741
-3.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.37 PKR 937
$3.48 PKR 967
-3.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.35 PKR 1,209
$3.64 PKR 1,012
19.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 PKR 289
$1.03 PKR 287
0.97%
Banana (1kg)
$0.84 PKR 234
$0.51 PKR 143
64.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.89 PKR 247
2.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 156
$0.51 PKR 142
9.80%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 PKR 115
$0.41 PKR 114
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.44 PKR 122
29.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKR 85.4
$0.31 PKR 85.0
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 PKR 113
$0.38 PKR 105
7.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.00 PKR 555
$1.94 PKR 540
3.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 PKR 258
$0.86 PKR 240
8.14%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 PKR 567
$2.04 PKR 567
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 PKR 595
$2.10 PKR 584
1.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKR 46.51
$0.17 PKR 47.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.22 PKR 2,005
$7.18 PKR 1,994
0.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.91 PKR 252
-6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 PKR 120
$0.43 PKR 120
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 PKR 775
$2.75 PKR 763
1.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 271
$0.97 PKR 268
1.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
$21.5K PKR 6.0M
-2.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K PKR 7.2M
$26.5K PKR 7.3M
-1.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 PKR 31.6K
$35.38 PKR 9,824
221.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41 PKR 1,501
$2.77 PKR 768
95.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 PKR 5,190
$14.10 PKR 3,915
32.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.13 PKR 6,144
$6.94 PKR 1,926
218.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12 PKR 1,698
$1.80 PKR 501
240.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14 PKR 1,150
$4.35 PKR 1,208
-4.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.2 PKR 16.7K
$14.06 PKR 3,905
328.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,753 PKR 764.4K
$955 PKR 265.2K
188.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.08 PKR 5,854
$21.59 PKR 5,996
-2.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.64 PKR 7,674
$28.48 PKR 7,908
-2.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 PKR 24.4K
$87.2 PKR 24.2K
0.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.94 PKR 11.4K
$39.75 PKR 11.0K
2.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$199 PKR 55.3K
$32.00 PKR 8,885
521.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$110 PKR 30.5K
$19.17 PKR 5,323
473.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 PKR 140.1K
$73.4 PKR 20.4K
587.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$299 PKR 83.0K
$44.51 PKR 12.4K
571.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,513 PKR 420.1K
$712 PKR 197.7K
112.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$647 PKR 179.8K
$358 PKR 99.5K
80.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$385 PKR 106.9K
$165 PKR 45.7K
133.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
20.2
-

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Attock: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $32.00 in Attock. 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 134% 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 $9.00 in Attock. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $88.0 – making Attock 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 Attock: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Islamabad or Attock?
Islamabad costs about 63% more than Attock, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Islamabad and in Attock?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Islamabad and $491 in Attock. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Islamabad or Attock?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Attock, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Islamabad compared to Attock?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $534 in Islamabad and $327 in Attock. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Islamabad compared to Attock?
Public transport costs about 1% less in Attock. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Islamabad or in Attock?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $534 in Islamabad and $327 in Attock, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Attock – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Islamabad compared to Attock?
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.
Should I move to Islamabad or to Attock?
If budget matters most, go with Attock. 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.

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