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: $532 in Islamabad versus $450 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $834 in Islamabad versus $657 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,136 in Islamabad versus $865 in Bahawalnagar.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 60% lower, Bahawalnagar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 803

$2.10 PKR 583

37.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$13.92 PKR 3,862

1.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$4.32 PKR 1,199

25.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.76 PKR 765

-36.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$3.61 PKR 1,001

4.99%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$2.27 PKR 630

-12.78%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.33 PKR 91.0

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.21 PKR 58.1

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.85 PKR 235

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.57 PKR 158

8.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.21 PKR 335

0.83%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.18 PKR 326

3.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$6.15 PKR 1,706

-1.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$2.34 PKR 649

44.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$1.29 PKR 359

246.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.86 PKR 240

16.28%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.64 PKR 177

31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.56 PKR 156

66.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.48 PKR 133

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 98.0

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.49 PKR 135

18.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.45 PKR 124

-26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.11 PKR 309

71.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.54 PKR 150

57.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$0.85 PKR 236

130.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$1.90 PKR 527

10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.20 PKR 54.1

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$6.93 PKR 1,924

3.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.68 PKR 187

23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.50 PKR 138

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$1.72 PKR 479

66.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.93 PKR 259

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

18.15%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

14.97%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$141 PKR 39.2K

-19.97%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$5.42 PKR 1,504

-0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$17.30 PKR 4,802

7.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$12.42 PKR 3,448

83.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$6.09 PKR 1,691

-1.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$4.21 PKR 1,167

3.33%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$34.65 PKR 9,616

74.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

126.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$15.24 PKR 4,230

38.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,807

$22.48 PKR 6,239

25.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

23.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$30.04 PKR 8,338

33.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$76.1 PKR 21.1K

159.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

111.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$168 PKR 46.6K

205.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$105 PKR 29.0K

186.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$911 PKR 252.7K

72.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$463 PKR 128.4K

39.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

19.88

1.61%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Islamabad and $76.1 in Bahawalnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $14.00 in Bahawalnagar. Groceries flip the comparison at $99.0 vs $79.0, with Bahawalnagar cheaper for home cooking.

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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $798 in Islamabad and $675 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: $197 in Islamabad versus $76.1 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 4% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.5 in Islamabad versus $34.65 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.