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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $490 in Daska, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $774 in Daska, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $1,059 in Daska, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 20% more than Daska, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.58 PKR 992

-0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$22.48 PKR 6,233

1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$5.36 PKR 1,487

2.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$3.46 PKR 958

2.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$6.95 PKR 1,928

-3.45%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.43 PKR 673

-1.65%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.35 PKR 97.9

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.24 PKR 66.8

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.98 PKR 270

1.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.77 PKR 214

2.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.27 PKR 351

0.79%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.25 PKR 347

2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$5.88 PKR 1,630

3.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$3.02 PKR 836

1.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$4.98 PKR 1,382

2.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.22 PKR 338

9.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.85 PKR 235

-1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.07 PKR 297

-4.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.43 PKR 119

13.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.27 PKR 74.5

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.33 PKR 92.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.27 PKR 74.7

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 103

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.83 PKR 508

3.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.33 PKR 369

3.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.42 PKR 672

-2.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.37 PKR 658

-3.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.16 PKR 44.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$9.84 PKR 2,728

115.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.15 PKR 320

10.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.70 PKR 193

-1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.76 PKR 487

-6.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.27 PKR 351

3.94%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

152.68%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

3.17%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$103 PKR 28.6K

-1.04%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.69 PKR 1,579

2.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$16.06 PKR 4,451

1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$16.63 PKR 4,611

74.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.96 PKR 1,375

1.01%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,020 PKR 282.8K

398.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$24.16 PKR 6,698

-2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$32.26 PKR 8,943

1.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$88.9 PKR 24.7K

-6.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$118 PKR 32.8K

133.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$74.0 PKR 20.5K

94.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$254 PKR 70.5K

127.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$152 PKR 42.1K

75.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$922 PKR 255.6K

77.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

$504 PKR 139.6K

64.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Daska: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $118 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $22.00 in Daska. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $100 – making Daska 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 20% 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 $884 per month in Islamabad and $735 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.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Islamabad, 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 $22.00 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 $589 in Islamabad and $490 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.