Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Burewala Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Burewala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $534 in Islamabad versus $426 in Burewala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Islamabad versus $646 in Burewala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,160 in Islamabad versus $866 in Burewala.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 25% more expensive than in Burewala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 60% lower, Burewala 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$3.07 PKR 853

-7.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$9.03 PKR 2,507

57.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$4.14 PKR 1,148

31.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$4.41 PKR 1,223

-61.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$3.44 PKR 956

11.05%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.82 PKR 506

8.24%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.50 PKR 140

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.37 PKR 103

-35.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.89 PKR 246

7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.78 PKR 217

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$2.23 PKR 620

-42.60%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$0.88 PKR 244

36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$6.15 PKR 1,709

-1.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$3.35 PKR 930

0.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$6.99 PKR 1,941

-37.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.36 PKR 377

-23.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.77 PKR 215

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.66 PKR 184

37.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.25 PKR 69.7

124.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.21 PKR 58.3

95.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.73 PKR 204

-21.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.31 PKR 85.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.34 PKR 95.8

20.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.37 PKR 382

45.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$1.97 PKR 546

3.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.10 PKR 583

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.21 PKR 57.0

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$7.23 PKR 2,009

-0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.41 PKR 113

4.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$1.81 PKR 502

54.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.99 PKR 274

-1.01%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-1.65%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

12.39%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$101 PKR 28.1K

12.16%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$4.17 PKR 1,157

29.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$13.58 PKR 3,771

37.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$12.24 PKR 3,399

80.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$6.00 PKR 1,667

2.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$3.51 PKR 973

17.95%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$29.88 PKR 8,298

101.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$1,120 PKR 311.1K

145.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$15.19 PKR 4,217

38.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$22.37 PKR 6,213

23.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$70.8 PKR 19.7K

24.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$29.25 PKR 8,122

39.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

164.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

112.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$164 PKR 45.4K

208.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$106 PKR 29.5K

181.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$927 PKR 257.5K

63.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$492 PKR 136.7K

31.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

6.32%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Burewala: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Islamabad and $75.1 in Burewala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $9.00 in Burewala. Groceries flip the comparison at $100 vs $108, with Islamabad 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 Burewala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burewala wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Islamabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Burewala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $801 in Islamabad and $639 in Burewala 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: $199 in Islamabad versus $75.1 in Burewala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Burewala runs roughly 0% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.2 in Islamabad versus $29.88 in Burewala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Burewala 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 Burewala 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 Burewala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.