Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Chennai (Madras) Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Chennai (Madras)

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 0.3% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 13.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 1.2% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 12.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PKR 771

$2.21 ₹206

24.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.25 PKR 3,975

$11.70 ₹1,087

21.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 PKR 1,485

$4.17 ₹387

27.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 482

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PKR 1,109

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 581

$2.15 ₹199

-3.26%

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.48 ₹45.03

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.2

$0.20 ₹18.93

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ₹200

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 ₹371

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.63 ₹58.4

53.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 185

$0.54 ₹49.71

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 352

$0.71 ₹66.3

77.46%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 355

$0.91 ₹84.9

39.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,680

$6.97 ₹647

-13.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 958

$3.59 ₹334

-4.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,227

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 280

$2.85 ₹265

-64.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.86 ₹79.7

-1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.28 ₹119

-29.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.48 ₹44.86

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.56 ₹51.7

-32.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 160

$0.50 ₹46.13

14.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.0

$0.59 ₹55.3

-44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.35 ₹32.66

5.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.91 PKR 534

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 255

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 566

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 576

$4.00 ₹372

-48.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₹734

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₹177

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ₹316

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$6.30 ₹586

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.4

$0.36 ₹33.55

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,924

$11.73 ₹1,090

-41.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.59 ₹148

-42.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.28 ₹25.68

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 802

$1.72 ₹160

66.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 258

$1.22 ₹113

-24.59%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$17.4K ₹1.6M

20.19%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$24.7K ₹2.3M

5.93%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$47.86 ₹4,447

132.68%

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

$5.57 PKR 1,555

$4.71 ₹438

18.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 PKR 5,218

$9.76 ₹907

91.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.29 PKR 6,220

$17.69 ₹1,644

26.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.86 PKR 1,634

$6.85 ₹636

-14.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,200

$2.86 ₹266

50.35%

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

$60.6 PKR 16.9K

$78.9 ₹7,331

-23.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,738 PKR 764.0K

$1,776 ₹165.1K

54.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.38 PKR 5,965

$26.04 ₹2,419

-17.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.45 PKR 7,937

$23.73 ₹2,205

19.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 25.0K

$49.33 ₹4,584

81.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.17 PKR 11.2K

$36.06 ₹3,351

11.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 55.0K

$189 ₹17.5K

4.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$117 ₹10.9K

-5.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.8K

$432 ₹40.2K

16.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PKR 81.6K

$264 ₹24.5K

10.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,535 PKR 428.2K

$1,734 ₹161.1K

-11.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$752 PKR 209.7K

$709 ₹65.9K

6.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$304 PKR 84.7K

$723 ₹67.1K

-57.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

9.42

114.44%

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

Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chennai (Madras): April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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