Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Dhaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Dhaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $589 in Islamabad versus $431 in Dhaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Islamabad versus $738 in Dhaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,246 in Islamabad versus $1,044 in Dhaka.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 37% more expensive than in Dhaka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Dhaka 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.39 ৳292

49.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$12.72 ৳1,559

78.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$4.97 ৳609

10.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$4.74 ৳581

-25.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$4.05 ৳496

65.68%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.35 ৳288

1.70%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.32 ৳39.35

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.19 ৳23.34

15.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.78 ৳95.8

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.60 ৳73.3

31.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$0.68 ৳83.4

88.24%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.17 ৳143

9.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$9.18 ৳1,125

-33.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$3.32 ৳406

-7.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$6.80 ৳833

-24.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$2.80 ৳344

-52.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.92 ৳113

-8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$2.32 ৳284

-56.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.62 ৳75.9

-20.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.23 ৳27.95

26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.52 ৳64.3

-36.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.35 ৳42.29

-17.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.29 ৳35.51

31.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$12.43 ৳1,523

-84.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$5.54 ৳679

-75.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$6.54 ৳801

-64.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$3.34 ৳410

-31.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.40 ৳48.88

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$22.95 ৳2,812

-7.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.20 ৳147

5.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.43 ৳52.7

60.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$3.31 ৳405

-50.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.06 ৳130

24.53%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$29.7K ৳3.6M

81.79%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$32.0K ৳3.9M

-21.58%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$45.69 ৳5,597

123.46%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$4.10 ৳503

42.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$11.54 ৳1,413

41.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$16.84 ৳2,063

72.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$14.98 ৳1,836

-40.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$3.99 ৳489

25.56%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$96.1 ৳11.8K

-21.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$2,694 ৳330.1K

88.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$17.09 ৳2,094

37.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$19.57 ৳2,397

66.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$51.3 ৳6,286

62.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$37.19 ৳4,557

5.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$147 ৳18.1K

87.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$70.2 ৳8,598

105.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$441 ৳54.1K

30.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$220 ৳27.0K

20.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$1,602 ৳196.3K

2.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$769 ৳94.2K

7.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$251 ৳30.8K

51.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

10.44

25.29%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Islamabad and $147 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $13.00 in Dhaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $103 vs $124, with Islamabad cheaper for home cooking.

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 Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 52% higher in Islamabad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Islamabad versus $147 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $589 per month in Islamabad versus $431 in Dhaka – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 8% less than in Islamabad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dhaka 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 Dhaka 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 Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.