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: $589 in Islamabad versus $442 in Burewala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Islamabad versus $657 in Burewala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,246 in Islamabad versus $873 in Burewala.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 33% more expensive than in Burewala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Burewala 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.04 PKR 565

75.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$10.63 PKR 2,948

113.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$5.39 PKR 1,496

1.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$2.43 PKR 675

46.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$4.58 PKR 1,269

46.51%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.47 PKR 409

62.59%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.36 PKR 99.0

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.24 PKR 66.3

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.82 PKR 227

20.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.59 PKR 165

33.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.16 PKR 321

10.34%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.24 PKR 345

3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$5.80 PKR 1,610

5.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$2.62 PKR 727

16.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$4.94 PKR 1,370

3.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.13 PKR 314

18.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.56 PKR 154

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.74 PKR 205

37.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.27 PKR 74.8

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.33 PKR 90.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.27 PKR 75.9

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 102

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.87 PKR 518

1.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.11 PKR 307

24.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$2.38 PKR 659

-1.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.07 PKR 576

10.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.19 PKR 52.7

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$9.99 PKR 2,771

112.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.95 PKR 263

33.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.72 PKR 200

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$1.57 PKR 435

5.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.05 PKR 292

25.71%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

117.29%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$27.6K PKR 7.7M

-9.11%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$117 PKR 32.5K

-12.96%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$5.36 PKR 1,487

8.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$12.54 PKR 3,478

30.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$15.87 PKR 4,404

83.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$4.13 PKR 1,145

21.31%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$36.96 PKR 10.3K

103.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,145 PKR 317.7K

343.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$14.56 PKR 4,039

61.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$19.38 PKR 5,377

68.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$70.0 PKR 19.4K

19.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$28.71 PKR 7,965

36.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$124 PKR 34.4K

123.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$80.7 PKR 22.4K

78.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$255 PKR 70.7K

126.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$167 PKR 46.4K

59.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$793 PKR 220.0K

106.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$560 PKR 155.4K

48.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Burewala: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Islamabad and $124 in Burewala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $11.00 in Burewala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $90.0 per month, with Burewala 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 Burewala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burewala wins on cost – living expenses run 33% 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 $884 in Islamabad and $663 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: $277 in Islamabad versus $124 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 113% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $75.0 in Islamabad versus $36.96 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 33% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.