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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $404 in Chiniot, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $594 in Chiniot, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $784 in Chiniot, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 31% more than Chiniot, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Chiniot are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Chiniot 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.81 PKR 502

54.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$8.91 PKR 2,480

59.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.39 PKR 1,500

0.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.55 PKR 431

10.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.41 PKR 948

17.30%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$0.90 PKR 250

122.22%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.32 PKR 88.2

34.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.16 PKR 45.05

37.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.54 PKR 151

74.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.56 PKR 155

10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.29 PKR 360

-6.20%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.12 PKR 311

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.31 PKR 1,756

-3.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.41 PKR 949

-0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$4.48 PKR 1,246

-2.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.96 PKR 266

7.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.68 PKR 188

14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.90 PKR 251

3.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.51 PKR 141

17.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.34 PKR 94.2

20.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.51 PKR 143

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.26 PKR 73.0

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.39 PKR 110

-5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.33 PKR 371

45.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.04 PKR 289

-13.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.28 PKR 636

-12.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.92 PKR 534

11.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.20 PKR 56.3

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$6.87 PKR 1,910

0.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.86 PKR 241

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.41 PKR 114

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$2.99 PKR 830

-6.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.94 PKR 263

-3.19%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

22.31%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

16.09%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$102 PKR 28.3K

9.81%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.01 PKR 1,117

35.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$16.52 PKR 4,597

13.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$12.16 PKR 3,383

82.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$5.91 PKR 1,645

2.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.56 PKR 991

18.26%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

47.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$956 PKR 266.1K

193.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$11.65 PKR 3,240

85.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$19.03 PKR 5,294

45.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$89.0 PKR 24.8K

-1.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$29.05 PKR 8,080

37.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

161.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

114.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$164 PKR 45.6K

213.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$108 PKR 29.9K

175.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$909 PKR 253.0K

70.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$586 PKR 163.0K

12.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

20.17

0.15%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiniot: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $75.6 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $9.00 in Chiniot. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $93.0 – making Chiniot the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 31% more than Chiniot, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad and $606 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 $60.3 per month in Islamabad and $40.94 in Chiniot. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $404 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.