Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $874 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $1,402 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $1,930 in Da Nang, rent included.

Islamabad is about 33% cheaper than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Da Nang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.33 ₫60.8K

53.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$19.42 ₫506.3K

17.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$4.46 ₫116.3K

22.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.72 ₫44.9K

38.95%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.68 ₫17.8K

-52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.34 ₫8,932

-35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₫33.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₫61.6K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.54 ₫40.1K

-35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$1.22 ₫31.9K

-35.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.06 ₫27.5K

20.75%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.52 ₫39.7K

-15.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$12.97 ₫338.0K

-52.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$4.05 ₫105.7K

-24.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$9.27 ₫241.7K

-44.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$2.69 ₫70.2K

-50.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$1.11 ₫28.9K

-24.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.33 ₫34.6K

-23.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$1.38 ₫35.9K

-64.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$1.09 ₫28.5K

-73.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$1.21 ₫31.6K

-72.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$1.03 ₫26.9K

-71.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.52 ₫13.6K

-26.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$1.55 ₫40.5K

47.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫201.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₫55.8K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.32 ₫8,222

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$5.07 ₫132.1K

318.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.03 ₫26.9K

23.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.65 ₫17.0K

6.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$19.08 ₫497.3K

-91.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.85 ₫22.2K

55.29%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$30.7K ₫801.2M

75.50%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$27.6K ₫718.2M

-8.89%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$88.0 ₫2.3M

16.02%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$6.28 ₫163.7K

-7.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$7.91 ₫206.2K

106.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$22.18 ₫578.3K

31.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$5.30 ₫138.2K

68.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$3.02 ₫78.7K

65.89%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$161 ₫4.2M

-53.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$15.1K ₫394.3M

-66.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$46.10 ₫1.2M

-48.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$27.21 ₫709.2K

20.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$103 ₫2.7M

-18.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$81.7 ₫2.1M

-51.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$529 ₫13.8M

-47.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$346 ₫9.0M

-58.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$1,037 ₫27.0M

-44.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$809 ₫21.1M

-67.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$3,809 ₫99.3M

-57.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$1,312 ₫34.2M

-36.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$350 ₫9.1M

9.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

10.72

22.01%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $529 in Da Nang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Islamabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Islamabad vs $198 in Da Nang – 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 Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $589 in Islamabad, $874 in Da Nang – roughly 48% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $1,311 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 93% more in Da Nang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $19.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad and $874 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $589 in Islamabad to $874 in Da Nang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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