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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $331 in Attock, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $529 in Attock, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $726 in Attock, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 60% more than Attock, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Islamabad and Attock are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Attock 75% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 PKR 779
$2.89 PKR 804
-3.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22 PKR 3,955
$9.05 PKR 2,518
57.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 PKR 1,512
$5.21 PKR 1,449
4.41%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 PKR 478
$1.82 PKR 506
-5.49%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 PKR 1,112
$3.92 PKR 1,089
2.04%
Cappuccino
$2.00 PKR 557
$2.09 PKR 581
-4.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKR 119
$0.42 PKR 117
2.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 PKR 61.1
$0.22 PKR 60.9
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 PKR 260
$0.62 PKR 171
51.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 PKR 173
$0.37 PKR 102
67.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 PKR 338
$1.27 PKR 353
-4.72%
Eggs
$1.20 PKR 335
$1.06 PKR 295
13.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.07 PKR 1,690
$6.08 PKR 1,690
-0.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 PKR 942
$3.52 PKR 980
-3.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.38 PKR 1,218
$3.61 PKR 1,005
21.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 287
$1.05 PKR 291
-1.90%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 PKR 216
$0.51 PKR 142
52.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 PKR 260
$0.88 PKR 245
5.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 PKR 166
$0.51 PKR 141
17.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 PKR 115
$0.41 PKR 115
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 149
$0.44 PKR 123
22.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 PKR 93.3
$0.31 PKR 85.4
9.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.38 PKR 105
-2.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.93 PKR 538
$1.33 PKR 371
45.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.87 PKR 242
3.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 PKR 553
$1.97 PKR 549
1.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 PKR 596
$2.09 PKR 582
2.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 52.2
$0.20 PKR 54.5
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,921
$7.27 PKR 2,023
-5.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 PKR 238
$0.87 PKR 241
-1.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 122
$0.41 PKR 114
7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 PKR 782
$2.89 PKR 803
-2.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.97 PKR 271
-6.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PKR 6.0M
$21.1K PKR 5.9M
2.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K PKR 7.3M
$26.7K PKR 7.4M
-2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 PKR 31.1K
$35.80 PKR 9,960
212.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.44 PKR 1,512
$2.82 PKR 783
92.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81 PKR 5,234
$14.10 PKR 3,924
33.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.19 PKR 6,174
$7.16 PKR 1,993
209.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04 PKR 1,679
$1.81 PKR 504
233.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21 PKR 1,171
$4.29 PKR 1,194
-1.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.3 PKR 16.8K
$14.25 PKR 3,964
323.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,805 PKR 780.2K
$934 PKR 259.7K
200.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.57 PKR 5,999
$21.47 PKR 5,974
0.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.63 PKR 7,686
$27.85 PKR 7,747
-0.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 PKR 24.5K
$89.3 PKR 24.8K
-1.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.91 PKR 11.1K
$40.74 PKR 11.3K
-2.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 PKR 55.1K
$32.33 PKR 8,994
512.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.1K
$19.28 PKR 5,365
479.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 PKR 142.6K
$71.3 PKR 19.8K
618.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 PKR 82.3K
$44.99 PKR 12.5K
557.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,551 PKR 431.4K
$974 PKR 270.9K
59.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$657 PKR 182.9K
$512 PKR 142.5K
28.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$387 PKR 107.8K
$163 PKR 45.4K
137.29%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Attock: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $32.33 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 137% 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: $98.0 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 60% 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 vs Attock?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad and $496 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 $529 in Islamabad and $331 in Attock. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Islamabad vs Attock?
Public transport costs about 5% 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 Attock?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $331 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 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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