Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Bahawalnagar Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Bahawalnagar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $593 in Islamabad versus $503 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $929 in Islamabad versus $741 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,264 in Islamabad versus $979 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 18% more expensive than in Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Bahawalnagar 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$2.54 PKR 704

40.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,430

$14.30 PKR 3,961

62.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.66 PKR 1,567

-3.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.69 PKR 1,023

0.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,865

$5.27 PKR 1,461

27.70%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$2.57 PKR 711

-2.33%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.0

$0.39 PKR 108

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.26 PKR 72.1

-19.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.88 PKR 245

6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.68 PKR 189

10.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.21 PKR 334

3.31%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.17 PKR 323

3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$6.40 PKR 1,772

-5.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.48 PKR 686

29.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$4.92 PKR 1,362

10.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.22 PKR 339

2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.64 PKR 178

26.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.92 PKR 254

11.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.62 PKR 171

-16.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.28 PKR 77.1

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.6

$0.33 PKR 90.1

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.47 PKR 129

-36.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.33 PKR 92.5

27.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.09 PKR 303

84.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.64 PKR 178

93.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

$1.66 PKR 461

56.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.12 PKR 588

9.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.19 PKR 51.8

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

$10.47 PKR 2,900

108.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$0.93 PKR 258

38.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.69 PKR 191

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.81 PKR 503

-11.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.33 PKR 369

-6.02%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

199.37%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-7.44%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$128 PKR 35.6K

-18.72%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.13 PKR 1,422

14.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,480

$16.41 PKR 4,546

-1.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,950

$16.30 PKR 4,514

76.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.34 PKR 1,203

0.69%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$46.41 PKR 12.9K

61.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$2,005 PKR 555.5K

153.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,946

$17.76 PKR 4,918

41.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,725

$27.19 PKR 7,531

29.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$74.4 PKR 20.6K

31.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$31.60 PKR 8,752

26.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$121 PKR 33.4K

130.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$76.2 PKR 21.1K

81.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$267 PKR 73.9K

121.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.7K

$149 PKR 41.2K

86.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

$966 PKR 267.7K

68.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$463 PKR 128.3K

76.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

14.28

-8.40%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Islamabad and $121 in Bahawalnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $14.00 in Bahawalnagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $96.0 per month, with Bahawalnagar cheaper across the board.

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 Bahawalnagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $890 in Islamabad and $754 in Bahawalnagar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Islamabad versus $121 in Bahawalnagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalnagar runs roughly 109% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $74.9 in Islamabad versus $46.41 in Bahawalnagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bahawalnagar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Islamabad and Bahawalnagar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bahawalnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.