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: $534 in Islamabad versus $337 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Islamabad versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,160 in Islamabad versus $725 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 59% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 60% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.74 PKR 484

63.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$8.78 PKR 2,439

62.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$3.47 PKR 964

56.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.40 PKR 388

22.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$4.76 PKR 1,321

-19.75%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.29 PKR 358

52.71%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.30 PKR 84.7

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.22 PKR 60.9

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.51 PKR 142

88.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.53 PKR 146

24.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.23 PKR 341

4.07%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.05 PKR 292

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$7.37 PKR 2,047

-17.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.57 PKR 714

31.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.25 PKR 903

33.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.99 PKR 275

5.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.55 PKR 153

52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.26 PKR 72.8

250.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.53 PKR 148

5.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 96.5

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.51 PKR 141

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.63 PKR 174

-50.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.30 PKR 82.9

36.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$0.97 PKR 270

106.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.69 PKR 192

34.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$3.47 PKR 963

-41.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.84 PKR 511

16.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.20 PKR 56.4

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$1.80 PKR 499

301.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.08 PKR 301

-21.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.21 PKR 57.0

104.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$1.07 PKR 297

160.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-2.28%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

23.39%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

97.60%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$3.89 PKR 1,080

39.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$12.75 PKR 3,541

46.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$12.44 PKR 3,454

77.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$8.09 PKR 2,247

-24.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$2.18 PKR 605

89.91%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$26.76 PKR 7,431

124.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$681 PKR 189.1K

304.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$15.92 PKR 4,419

32.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$22.24 PKR 6,174

24.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

47.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$26.13 PKR 7,255

56.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$105 PKR 29.2K

89.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

105.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$234 PKR 65.0K

115.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$135 PKR 37.5K

121.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

-56.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$780 PKR 216.5K

-16.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$135 PKR 37.5K

185.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

12.22%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Islamabad and $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 185% 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: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $84.0 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 59% 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 185% higher in Islamabad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $199 in Islamabad versus $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $534 per month in Islamabad versus $337 in Bahawalpur – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 301% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 59% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.