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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $349 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $548 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $746 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 53% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Faisalabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Faisalabad 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.78 PKR 495

60.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$10.58 PKR 2,937

34.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$3.45 PKR 958

57.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$2.77 PKR 769

-37.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$4.69 PKR 1,303

-18.55%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.46 PKR 406

34.93%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.33 PKR 92.2

21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.22 PKR 60.7

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.71 PKR 197

35.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.63 PKR 176

4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.26 PKR 349

1.59%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.14 PKR 316

5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-15.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.64 PKR 733

27.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.27 PKR 907

33.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.03 PKR 285

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.55 PKR 152

52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.62 PKR 173

46.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.53 PKR 146

5.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 95.8

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.51 PKR 142

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.58 PKR 161

-46.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.43 PKR 118

-4.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.03 PKR 286

94.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.72 PKR 201

29.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$3.49 PKR 970

-41.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.90 PKR 529

12.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.21 PKR 57.3

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$3.52 PKR 978

105.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.04 PKR 288

-18.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.36 PKR 101

19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$1.80 PKR 500

55.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.97 PKR 269

1.03%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

-4.83%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

23.80%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

92.26%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$3.76 PKR 1,045

43.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$12.89 PKR 3,578

45.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$15.16 PKR 4,209

45.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$10.77 PKR 2,990

-43.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$3.47 PKR 964

19.31%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$28.39 PKR 7,883

111.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$1,144 PKR 317.5K

140.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$16.26 PKR 4,516

29.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$21.92 PKR 6,087

26.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

47.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$25.61 PKR 7,112

59.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$71.6 PKR 19.9K

178.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$47.84 PKR 13.3K

129.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$146 PKR 40.6K

245.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$106 PKR 29.5K

180.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$535 PKR 148.6K

182.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$250 PKR 69.6K

158.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$190 PKR 52.6K

103.09%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Faisalabad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $71.6 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 103% 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: $100 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 53% 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 $801 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 10% 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 $534 in Islamabad and $349 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.