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: $533 in Islamabad versus $291 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $849 in Islamabad versus $465 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Islamabad versus $640 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 83% more expensive than 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 804

$1.17 PKR 325

147.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.01 PKR 3,894

$10.58 PKR 2,942

32.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,487

$2.43 PKR 676

120.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.04 PKR 289

68.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PKR 1,105

$1.80 PKR 499

120.56%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PKR 561

$1.50 PKR 417

34.67%

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

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.34 PKR 93.2

14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.22 PKR 61.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.72 PKR 199

41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.46 PKR 128

43.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.19 PKR 331

3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,675

$2.72 PKR 757

121.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 PKR 948

$1.97 PKR 548

73.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,260

$3.11 PKR 865

45.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.03 PKR 286

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.58 PKR 161

44.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.65 PKR 181

38.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.55 PKR 154

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.35 PKR 96.7

8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.42 PKR 117

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.62 PKR 173

-51.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.34 PKR 94.0

20.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 553

$0.96 PKR 267

107.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.92 PKR 257

1.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 560

$2.02 PKR 562

-0.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 598

$1.73 PKR 481

24.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.8

$0.19 PKR 54.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,933

$7.18 PKR 1,996

-3.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.04 PKR 290

-18.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.33 PKR 91.9

24.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 781

$1.75 PKR 487

60.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.90 PKR 251

5.56%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-5.32%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

22.90%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$58.2 PKR 16.2K

92.32%

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

$5.36 PKR 1,492

$2.28 PKR 633

135.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.59 PKR 5,168

$12.90 PKR 3,586

44.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.15 PKR 6,158

$12.20 PKR 3,391

81.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 PKR 1,638

$6.02 PKR 1,673

-2.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.46 PKR 962

25.43%

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

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

$28.04 PKR 7,795

111.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

$1,114 PKR 309.8K

149.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.12 PKR 5,873

$16.22 PKR 4,510

30.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.99 PKR 7,782

$21.88 PKR 6,082

27.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

47.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

$25.80 PKR 7,173

52.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 56.0K

$55.8 PKR 15.5K

261.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.0K

$30.32 PKR 8,430

268.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.2K

$118 PKR 32.8K

337.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

347.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

$915 PKR 254.5K

71.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 PKR 179.6K

$480 PKR 133.5K

34.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Islamabad and $55.8 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $11.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $71.0 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 83% in total monthly costs ($533 vs $291 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 $799 in Islamabad and $436 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: $201 in Islamabad versus $55.8 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 3% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $59.4 in Islamabad versus $28.04 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 83% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.