Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Chiniot Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Chiniot

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $497 in Chiniot, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $752 in Chiniot, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $1,008 in Chiniot, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 19% more than Chiniot, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Islamabad and Chiniot are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Chiniot 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.02 PKR 560

76.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$16.10 PKR 4,466

41.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$5.80 PKR 1,610

-5.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$1.83 PKR 507

93.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$3.34 PKR 927

100.90%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.03 PKR 562

17.73%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.41 PKR 113

-21.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.23 PKR 63.8

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.86 PKR 238

15.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.56 PKR 155

41.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.26 PKR 350

1.59%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.16 PKR 323

10.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$6.11 PKR 1,696

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$3.55 PKR 984

-13.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$5.21 PKR 1,446

-1.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.16 PKR 321

15.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.82 PKR 228

2.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.27 PKR 352

-19.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.53 PKR 147

-7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.38 PKR 107

-23.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.48 PKR 133

-31.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.33 PKR 92.2

-12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.43 PKR 119

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.81 PKR 503

4.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.15 PKR 319

20.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$2.44 PKR 678

-3.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$1.99 PKR 553

14.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.16 PKR 45.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$10.51 PKR 2,915

102.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.93 PKR 257

36.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.35 PKR 96.9

97.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$1.66 PKR 460

-0.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.18 PKR 327

11.86%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

201.85%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

2.31%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$114 PKR 31.7K

-10.63%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$5.62 PKR 1,559

3.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$18.86 PKR 5,231

-13.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$14.36 PKR 3,984

102.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$4.26 PKR 1,183

17.61%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$48.41 PKR 13.4K

55.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$834 PKR 231.3K

509.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$20.87 PKR 5,791

12.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$28.76 PKR 7,979

13.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$91.4 PKR 25.3K

-8.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$35.84 PKR 9,944

9.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$119 PKR 32.9K

133.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$73.7 PKR 20.4K

95.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$265 PKR 73.7K

117.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$149 PKR 41.3K

78.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$1,024 PKR 284.0K

59.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$494 PKR 137.0K

67.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

22.81

-42.66%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiniot: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $119 in Chiniot. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad versus $16.00 in Chiniot. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Islamabad vs $103 in Chiniot – so Islamabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Chiniot: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 19% more than Chiniot, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $745 in Chiniot. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiniot, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $75.0 per month in Islamabad and $48.41 in Chiniot. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Islamabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad and $497 in Chiniot, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Chiniot – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiniot. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.