😐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 – Islamabad61% lower, Attock75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80PKR 779
$2.89PKR 804
-3.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,955
$9.05PKR 2,518
57.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44PKR 1,512
$5.21PKR 1,449
4.41%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 478
$1.82PKR 506
-5.49%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00PKR 1,112
$3.92PKR 1,089
2.04%
Cappuccino
$2.00PKR 557
$2.09PKR 581
-4.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.42PKR 117
2.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.1
$0.22PKR 60.9
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94PKR 260
$0.62PKR 171
51.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 173
$0.37PKR 102
67.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 338
$1.27PKR 353
-4.72%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 335
$1.06PKR 295
13.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07PKR 1,690
$6.08PKR 1,690
-0.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 942
$3.52PKR 980
-3.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.38PKR 1,218
$3.61PKR 1,005
21.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$1.05PKR 291
-1.90%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78PKR 216
$0.51PKR 142
52.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 260
$0.88PKR 245
5.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.51PKR 141
17.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 115
$0.41PKR 115
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.54PKR 149
$0.44PKR 123
22.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.3
$0.31PKR 85.4
9.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.38PKR 105
-2.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.93PKR 538
$1.33PKR 371
45.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90PKR 251
$0.87PKR 242
3.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99PKR 553
$1.97PKR 549
1.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 596
$2.09PKR 582
2.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.2
$0.20PKR 54.5
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.90PKR 1,921
$7.27PKR 2,023
-5.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 238
$0.87PKR 241
-1.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.41PKR 114
7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.81PKR 782
$2.89PKR 803
-2.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.97PKR 271
-6.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
2.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KPKR 7.3M
$26.7KPKR 7.4M
-2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.1K
$35.80PKR 9,960
212.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.44PKR 1,512
$2.82PKR 783
92.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81PKR 5,234
$14.10PKR 3,924
33.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.19PKR 6,174
$7.16PKR 1,993
209.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04PKR 1,679
$1.81PKR 504
233.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21PKR 1,171
$4.29PKR 1,194
-1.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.3PKR 16.8K
$14.25PKR 3,964
323.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,805PKR 780.2K
$934PKR 259.7K
200.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.57PKR 5,999
$21.47PKR 5,974
0.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.63PKR 7,686
$27.85PKR 7,747
-0.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1PKR 24.5K
$89.3PKR 24.8K
-1.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$40.74PKR 11.3K
-2.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198PKR 55.1K
$32.33PKR 8,994
512.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$112PKR 31.1K
$19.28PKR 5,365
479.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513PKR 142.6K
$71.3PKR 19.8K
618.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296PKR 82.3K
$44.99PKR 12.5K
557.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,551PKR 431.4K
$974PKR 270.9K
59.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$657PKR 182.9K
$512PKR 142.5K
28.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Attock
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$387PKR 107.8K
$163PKR 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.