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: $534 in Islamabad versus $416 in Dhaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Islamabad versus $705 in Dhaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,160 in Islamabad versus $995 in Dhaka.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 29% more expensive than in Dhaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 60% lower, Dhaka 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$2.50 ৳309

14.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$12.59 ৳1,552

13.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$4.98 ৳614

9.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$3.98 ৳491

-56.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$4.79 ৳590

-20.25%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$2.20 ৳271

-10.45%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.34 ৳42.36

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.19 ৳23.65

26.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.82 ৳101

17.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.70 ৳86.6

-5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$0.65 ৳80.2

96.92%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.26 ৳155

-4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$6.97 ৳859

-12.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$3.39 ৳417

-0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$6.44 ৳794

-32.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$2.84 ৳350

-63.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$1.12 ৳139

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$2.55 ৳314

-64.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.90 ৳111

-37.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.43 ৳53.0

-4.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.83 ৳103

-31.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.33 ৳40.31

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.30 ৳37.46

36.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$12.03 ৳1,483

-83.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$3.91 ৳482

-76.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$7.13 ৳879

-71.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.99 ৳369

-28.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.43 ৳52.8

-60.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$24.18 ৳2,980

-70.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.21 ৳149

-29.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.43 ৳52.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$3.15 ৳388

-11.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$1.03 ৳127

-4.85%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$29.3K ৳3.6M

-28.63%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$28.4K ৳3.5M

-8.71%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$32.72 ৳4,033

247.49%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$4.78 ৳589

13.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$13.15 ৳1,621

42.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$19.26 ৳2,374

14.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,699

$14.25 ৳1,757

-57.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$3.99 ৳492

3.76%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$48.08 ৳5,926

25.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

$1,996 ৳246.0K

37.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$18.81 ৳2,319

12.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$23.73 ৳2,925

16.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$46.25 ৳5,700

89.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$36.71 ৳4,524

11.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$118 ৳14.5K

68.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$63.3 ৳7,800

73.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$309 ৳38.0K

63.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$190 ৳23.4K

57.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$1,569 ৳193.3K

-3.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$764 ৳94.2K

-15.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$278 ৳34.2K

38.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

10.52

92.02%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Islamabad and $118 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 39% 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: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $13.00 in Dhaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $100 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $199 in Islamabad versus $118 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $534 per month in Islamabad versus $416 in Dhaka – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 235% 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 29% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.