Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Bahawalpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Bahawalpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $589 in Islamabad versus $304 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Islamabad versus $515 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,246 in Islamabad versus $726 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 94% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Bahawalpur 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$1.76 PKR 488

102.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$7.23 PKR 2,004

214.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$4.43 PKR 1,229

23.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$2.50 PKR 694

42.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$2.20 PKR 610

205.00%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.50 PKR 415

59.33%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.31 PKR 85.6

3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.19 PKR 53.0

15.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.56 PKR 156

76.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.43 PKR 120

83.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.04 PKR 288

23.08%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.00 PKR 276

28.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$8.77 PKR 2,434

-30.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$2.51 PKR 696

21.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$4.08 PKR 1,133

25.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.04 PKR 290

28.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.56 PKR 155

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.58 PKR 160

75.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.48 PKR 133

2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.31 PKR 86.6

-6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.50 PKR 139

-34.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.50 PKR 138

-42.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.38 PKR 104

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$0.51 PKR 143

272.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$0.56 PKR 156

146.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$0.74 PKR 206

217.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.00 PKR 554

14.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.10 PKR 306

15.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.06 PKR 294

-34.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$2.94 PKR 815

-43.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.14 PKR 317

15.79%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

127.05%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

17.36%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

49.42%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$4.44 PKR 1,230

31.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$11.59 PKR 3,214

40.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$10.99 PKR 3,049

-18.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$7.28 PKR 2,019

-31.18%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$23.81 PKR 6,605

215.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$660 PKR 183.1K

670.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$16.45 PKR 4,564

43.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$21.94 PKR 6,086

48.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

57.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$29.16 PKR 8,089

34.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$257 PKR 71.4K

124.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$126 PKR 34.9K

111.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

-52.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$760 PKR 211.0K

9.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$136 PKR 37.6K

181.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

11.83

10.57%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Islamabad pays 181% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $7.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $91.0 per month, with Bahawalpur 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 Bahawalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 94% lower than in Islamabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 181% higher in Islamabad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Islamabad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $589 per month in Islamabad versus $304 in Bahawalpur – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur 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 Bahawalpur 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 Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.