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: $593 in Islamabad versus $419 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $929 in Islamabad versus $630 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,264 in Islamabad versus $841 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 42% more expensive than in Dera Ghazi Khan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Dera Ghazi Khan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$1.83 PKR 507

94.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$10.92 PKR 3,026

112.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.46 PKR 1,513

-0.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$2.49 PKR 691

49.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$2.15 PKR 597

213.02%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.45 PKR 401

73.10%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.46 PKR 128

-28.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.30 PKR 82.3

-30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.84 PKR 233

11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.62 PKR 172

20.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.26 PKR 350

-0.79%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.19 PKR 329

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$8.77 PKR 2,430

-30.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.64 PKR 731

21.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$4.00 PKR 1,107

36.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.09 PKR 302

14.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.62 PKR 171

30.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.54 PKR 151

90.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.48 PKR 132

8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.29 PKR 79.6

-10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.52 PKR 145

-36.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.50 PKR 139

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.40 PKR 110

5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$0.52 PKR 144

286.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.52 PKR 144

138.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$0.75 PKR 209

245.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.32 PKR 642

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.18 PKR 50.9

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$9.94 PKR 2,752

119.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.10 PKR 303

17.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.06 PKR 295

-30.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$2.92 PKR 809

-44.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$0.95 PKR 264

31.58%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$23.3K PKR 6.4M

132.96%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

7.21%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$68.1 PKR 18.9K

53.28%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.66 PKR 1,569

3.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$14.51 PKR 4,020

11.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$15.18 PKR 4,206

89.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$7.09 PKR 1,964

-38.36%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$26.95 PKR 7,465

177.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$2,022 PKR 560.1K

151.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$19.03 PKR 5,272

31.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$26.07 PKR 7,222

34.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

83.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$29.24 PKR 8,100

36.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$140 PKR 38.8K

98.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$86.4 PKR 23.9K

59.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$222 PKR 61.5K

165.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$141 PKR 39.0K

96.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$905 PKR 250.6K

79.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$517 PKR 143.2K

57.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

11.83

10.57%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Islamabad and $140 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $11.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $98.0 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 42% in total monthly costs ($593 vs $419 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 $890 in Islamabad and $629 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: $278 in Islamabad versus $140 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 120% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $74.9 in Islamabad versus $26.95 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 42% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.