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: $529 in Islamabad versus $417 in Dhaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $835 in Islamabad versus $707 in Dhaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,141 in Islamabad versus $997 in Dhaka.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 27% more expensive than Dhaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 61% lower, Dhaka 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.40 ৳295

16.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$12.97 ৳1,591

9.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.88 ৳599

11.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$3.99 ৳489

-56.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$5.01 ৳614

-20.16%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$2.27 ৳278

-11.89%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.32 ৳38.76

34.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.15 ৳17.91

46.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.83 ৳101

13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.71 ৳86.5

-12.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$0.65 ৳80.3

86.15%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.29 ৳158

-6.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.74 ৳827

-9.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.45 ৳423

-1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$6.66 ৳817

-34.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.74 ৳336

-62.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.14 ৳140

-31.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$2.67 ৳327

-65.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.91 ৳111

-34.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.44 ৳53.7

-6.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.79 ৳96.6

-31.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.35 ৳43.42

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.30 ৳37.07

23.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$12.06 ৳1,480

-84.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$3.89 ৳477

-76.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$6.93 ৳850

-71.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$3.03 ৳372

-29.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.39 ৳48.34

-51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,920

$24.89 ৳3,054

-72.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.22 ৳149

-29.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.43 ৳52.7

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$3.06 ৳375

-8.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.04 ৳127

-12.50%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$28.9K ৳3.5M

-25.51%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-8.40%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$32.66 ৳4,006

242.13%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.75 ৳583

14.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$12.98 ৳1,593

44.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$19.31 ৳2,369

14.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$14.78 ৳1,813

-59.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$4.11 ৳504

2.43%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$46.92 ৳5,756

28.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,979 ৳242.8K

41.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$18.61 ৳2,283

15.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,685

$24.19 ৳2,967

14.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$46.70 ৳5,728

88.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$36.80 ৳4,514

8.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$117 ৳14.3K

69.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$63.5 ৳7,785

76.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$316 ৳38.8K

62.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$184 ৳22.5K

61.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$1,493 ৳183.2K

3.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$659 ৳80.8K

-0.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$286 ৳35.1K

35.54%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Islamabad and $117 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 36% 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 $98.0 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Islamabad pays 36% more on average, 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: $198 in Islamabad versus $117 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $529 per month in Islamabad versus $417 in Dhaka – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 261% 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 27% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.