Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Daska Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Daska

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $460 in Daska, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $697 in Daska, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $933 in Daska, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 15% more than Daska, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Islamabad and Daska are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Daska 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.87 PKR 799

-2.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$14.41 PKR 4,009

-1.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.37 PKR 1,494

1.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.79 PKR 499

-3.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.99 PKR 1,111

0.25%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.98 PKR 551

1.01%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.39 PKR 109

10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.22 PKR 60.8

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.95 PKR 263

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.67 PKR 187

-7.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.23 PKR 342

-1.63%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.21 PKR 338

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.36 PKR 1,771

-4.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.44 PKR 957

-1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$4.33 PKR 1,206

1.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.00 PKR 277

3.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.84 PKR 235

-7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.95 PKR 265

-2.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.56 PKR 157

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.42 PKR 116

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.58 PKR 161

-6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.33 PKR 92.2

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.39 PKR 387

38.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.86 PKR 238

4.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$1.96 PKR 544

1.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$2.08 PKR 578

2.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.16 PKR 44.83

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.03 PKR 1,955

-1.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.84 PKR 233

2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.40 PKR 112

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.92 PKR 257

-1.09%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

3.06%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

1.07%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-0.90%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.43 PKR 1,510

0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$18.78 PKR 5,225

0.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$12.29 PKR 3,419

80.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$6.09 PKR 1,694

-0.82%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$4.16 PKR 1,159

1.20%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$58.9 PKR 16.4K

2.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,105 PKR 307.4K

153.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$21.86 PKR 6,081

-1.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$28.05 PKR 7,803

-1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$39.82 PKR 11.1K

0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

161.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.1 PKR 14.2K

118.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$165 PKR 45.9K

210.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$105 PKR 29.2K

181.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$940 PKR 261.5K

64.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$496 PKR 137.9K

32.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Daska: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $75.8 in Daska. 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 $14.00 in Daska. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $100 – making Islamabad 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 Daska: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 15% more than Daska, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $690 in Daska. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Islamabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $14.00 in Daska. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $460 in Daska, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Daska – 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 Daska. 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.