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: $533 in Islamabad versus $441 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $849 in Islamabad versus $645 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Islamabad versus $850 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 21% more expensive than Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 60% lower, Bahawalnagar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$2.11 PKR 586

36.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.01 PKR 3,894

$13.89 PKR 3,862

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,487

$4.32 PKR 1,202

23.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.82 PKR 783

-37.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PKR 1,105

$3.80 PKR 1,057

4.47%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PKR 561

$2.35 PKR 654

-14.04%

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

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.36 PKR 98.9

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.21 PKR 58.2

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.82 PKR 228

24.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.57 PKR 159

15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.17 PKR 324

8.55%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.17 PKR 326

5.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,675

$5.92 PKR 1,645

1.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 PKR 948

$2.44 PKR 677

39.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,260

$1.28 PKR 355

253.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$0.87 PKR 243

18.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.59 PKR 164

42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.58 PKR 161

55.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.48 PKR 134

14.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.32 PKR 90.0

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.52 PKR 145

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.48 PKR 132

-37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.35 PKR 98.5

17.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 553

$0.87 PKR 243

128.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.54 PKR 150

72.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 560

$0.86 PKR 239

133.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 598

$1.96 PKR 546

9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.8

$0.16 PKR 44.39

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,933

$7.18 PKR 1,995

-3.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.70 PKR 193

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.49 PKR 137

-16.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 781

$1.79 PKR 499

56.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.93 PKR 259

2.15%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

20.78%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

10.63%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-18.78%

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

$5.36 PKR 1,492

$5.49 PKR 1,528

-2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.59 PKR 5,168

$17.02 PKR 4,733

9.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.15 PKR 6,158

$12.35 PKR 3,432

79.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 PKR 1,638

$5.92 PKR 1,645

-0.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.29 PKR 1,193

1.17%

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

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

$34.81 PKR 9,678

70.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

$1,209 PKR 336.2K

130.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.12 PKR 5,873

$15.30 PKR 4,254

38.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.99 PKR 7,782

$23.19 PKR 6,448

20.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

19.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

$29.67 PKR 8,250

33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 56.0K

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

165.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.0K

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

118.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.2K

$165 PKR 45.8K

212.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$107 PKR 29.9K

177.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

$848 PKR 235.8K

84.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 PKR 179.6K

$538 PKR 149.7K

20.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Islamabad and $75.8 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 $100 vs $78.0, 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $799 in Islamabad and $662 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: $201 in Islamabad versus $75.8 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 3% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $59.4 in Islamabad versus $34.81 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 21% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.