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: $529 in Islamabad versus $338 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $835 in Islamabad versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,141 in Islamabad versus $724 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 56% more expensive than Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 61% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.79 PKR 498

56.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$8.97 PKR 2,495

58.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.45 PKR 959

57.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.44 PKR 401

19.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$4.67 PKR 1,299

-14.35%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.29 PKR 359

55.04%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.31 PKR 84.9

38.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.49 PKR 135

91.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.57 PKR 159

8.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.30 PKR 360

-6.92%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.03 PKR 285

16.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$7.35 PKR 2,044

-17.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.67 PKR 743

26.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$3.27 PKR 909

33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.98 PKR 274

5.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.54 PKR 149

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.26 PKR 72.7

257.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.54 PKR 149

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.37 PKR 104

10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.51 PKR 141

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.63 PKR 175

-46.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.32 PKR 89.5

15.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$0.94 PKR 263

105.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.68 PKR 189

32.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$3.51 PKR 976

-43.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.87 PKR 521

14.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.20 PKR 55.8

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$1.81 PKR 503

281.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.09 PKR 303

-21.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.18 PKR 49.67

144.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.03 PKR 287

172.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.98 PKR 272

-7.14%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

0.44%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

23.42%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

93.72%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.87 PKR 1,077

40.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$12.79 PKR 3,559

47.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$12.33 PKR 3,430

79.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$7.85 PKR 2,183

-23.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$2.11 PKR 586

99.53%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$26.12 PKR 7,266

130.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$660 PKR 183.6K

324.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$15.94 PKR 4,433

35.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$22.13 PKR 6,157

24.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

45.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$26.44 PKR 7,357

50.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$106 PKR 29.6K

86.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

107.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$225 PKR 62.7K

127.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$135 PKR 37.4K

119.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

-56.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$760 PKR 211.5K

-13.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$137 PKR 38.1K

182.78%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Islamabad and $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 183% 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 $98.0 vs $85.0 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 56% 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.

Islamabad pays 183% more on average, 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: $198 in Islamabad versus $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $529 per month in Islamabad versus $338 in Bahawalpur – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 281% 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 56% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.