Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Faisalabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Faisalabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $350 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $540 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $730 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 51% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Faisalabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Faisalabad 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.74 PKR 483

60.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$10.75 PKR 2,990

32.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.56 PKR 990

52.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$2.82 PKR 784

-39.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$4.71 PKR 1,310

-15.07%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.50 PKR 418

33.33%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 PKR 92.2

30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.22 PKR 61.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.76 PKR 213

23.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.64 PKR 178

-3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.27 PKR 353

-4.72%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.14 PKR 317

5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$7.10 PKR 1,974

-14.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.64 PKR 734

28.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$3.14 PKR 872

39.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 284

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.55 PKR 153

41.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.67 PKR 186

38.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.52 PKR 144

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.37 PKR 104

10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.55 PKR 152

-1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.64 PKR 177

-46.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.40 PKR 111

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$0.98 PKR 272

96.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.68 PKR 189

32.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$3.44 PKR 956

-42.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.85 PKR 514

15.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.17 PKR 45.99

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,920

$3.47 PKR 964

98.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.09 PKR 302

-21.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.37 PKR 102

18.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.72 PKR 480

63.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.96 PKR 268

-5.21%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

-1.30%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

22.52%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$57.7 PKR 16.1K

93.52%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.75 PKR 1,042

45.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$12.96 PKR 3,604

45.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$14.85 PKR 4,130

49.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$10.76 PKR 2,994

-43.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.50 PKR 974

20.29%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$28.40 PKR 7,899

112.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,119 PKR 311.3K

150.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$15.94 PKR 4,435

35.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,685

$22.28 PKR 6,198

24.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

45.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$25.64 PKR 7,134

55.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$70.6 PKR 19.6K

180.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$47.75 PKR 13.3K

134.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$150 PKR 41.7K

241.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$108 PKR 29.9K

175.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$537 PKR 149.4K

188.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$256 PKR 71.3K

156.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$194 PKR 53.9K

100.04%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Faisalabad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $70.6 in Faisalabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 100% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Faisalabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $91.0 – making Faisalabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Faisalabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 51% more than Faisalabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad and $524 in Faisalabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Faisalabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $11.00 in Faisalabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $350 in Faisalabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Faisalabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Faisalabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.