Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Dera Ghazi Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Dera Ghazi Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $532 in Islamabad versus $298 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $834 in Islamabad versus $466 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,136 in Islamabad versus $634 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 78% more expensive than in Dera Ghazi Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 60% lower, Dera Ghazi Khan 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 803

$1.16 PKR 322

149.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$10.42 PKR 2,893

35.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$2.41 PKR 669

125.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$1.04 PKR 290

69.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$1.74 PKR 482

117.82%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.46 PKR 404

35.62%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.31 PKR 86.0

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.71 PKR 196

43.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.42 PKR 116

47.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.27 PKR 352

-3.94%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.15 PKR 318

6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$2.61 PKR 723

131.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$1.92 PKR 532

75.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$3.10 PKR 860

44.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.98 PKR 273

2.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.59 PKR 163

42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.60 PKR 167

55.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.55 PKR 153

3.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 96.2

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.40 PKR 110

45.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.60 PKR 166

-45.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.36 PKR 101

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$0.98 PKR 272

93.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.86 PKR 239

-1.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$2.03 PKR 565

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$1.74 PKR 482

20.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.17 PKR 48.13

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$6.88 PKR 1,909

4.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$1.03 PKR 286

-18.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.33 PKR 92.2

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$1.78 PKR 495

61.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.97 PKR 268

-4.12%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-5.27%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

23.95%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$57.8 PKR 16.0K

95.55%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$2.36 PKR 655

128.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$13.00 PKR 3,607

43.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$12.55 PKR 3,484

81.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$5.86 PKR 1,625

2.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.62 PKR 1,005

20.17%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$28.34 PKR 7,865

113.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$1,117 PKR 310.1K

149.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$16.05 PKR 4,453

31.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,806

$22.46 PKR 6,233

25.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

48.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$25.63 PKR 7,114

56.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

244.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$29.72 PKR 8,249

269.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$115 PKR 31.8K

347.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

348.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$891 PKR 247.3K

76.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$483 PKR 134.1K

33.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

12.22%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Islamabad and $57.4 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $10.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $70.0 per month, with Dera Ghazi Khan cheaper across the board.

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 Dera Ghazi Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad and Dera Ghazi Khan differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($532 vs $298 including rent). Dera Ghazi Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $798 in Islamabad and $448 in Dera Ghazi Khan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $197 in Islamabad versus $57.4 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dera Ghazi Khan runs roughly 4% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.5 in Islamabad versus $28.34 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Dera Ghazi Khan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Islamabad and Dera Ghazi Khan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dera Ghazi Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.