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: $543 in Islamabad versus $293 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $851 in Islamabad versus $458 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,159 in Islamabad versus $623 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 86% more expensive than Dera Ghazi Khan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 59% lower, Dera Ghazi Khan 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.14 PKR 317

151.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$10.47 PKR 2,918

35.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$2.45 PKR 683

113.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$1.08 PKR 302

61.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$1.82 PKR 507

109.89%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.50 PKR 419

36.67%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.31 PKR 85.1

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.22 PKR 61.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.76 PKR 212

26.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.42 PKR 118

45.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.23 PKR 343

3.25%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.19 PKR 333

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$2.67 PKR 745

131.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$1.91 PKR 532

82.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$3.11 PKR 867

41.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.03 PKR 286

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.55 PKR 152

49.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.59 PKR 166

59.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.52 PKR 146

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.34 PKR 95.6

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.39 PKR 109

35.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.59 PKR 164

-44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.36 PKR 101

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.46 PKR 407

34.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.93 PKR 260

-1.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$1.98 PKR 551

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$1.80 PKR 503

15.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.19 PKR 53.1

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$7.12 PKR 1,985

-1.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$1.03 PKR 288

-10.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.31 PKR 85.5

32.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$1.74 PKR 484

58.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.96 PKR 269

2.08%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.7K PKR 6.1M

-2.06%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

25.53%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$59.0 PKR 16.5K

88.82%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$2.26 PKR 631

144.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$13.04 PKR 3,634

43.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$12.39 PKR 3,455

79.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$5.84 PKR 1,628

0.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$3.55 PKR 991

16.62%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$28.44 PKR 7,929

113.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$1,139 PKR 317.4K

144.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$16.17 PKR 4,508

31.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$22.18 PKR 6,184

27.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$59.8 PKR 16.7K

50.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$25.80 PKR 7,192

58.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$55.8 PKR 15.6K

258.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$30.29 PKR 8,444

267.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$116 PKR 32.4K

342.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$68.1 PKR 19.0K

323.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$805 PKR 224.5K

89.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$564 PKR 157.2K

31.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 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 $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 86% in total monthly costs ($543 vs $293 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 $814 in Islamabad and $439 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: $200 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 2% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.9 in Islamabad versus $28.44 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 86% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.