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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $393 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $614 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $835 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 50% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Faisalabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Faisalabad 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$1.82 PKR 506

96.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$10.74 PKR 2,979

111.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$5.56 PKR 1,543

-1.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$2.48 PKR 688

43.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$2.11 PKR 586

218.01%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.44 PKR 401

65.97%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.46 PKR 128

-30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.32 PKR 89.0

-31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.84 PKR 234

17.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.62 PKR 172

27.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.27 PKR 354

0.79%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.18 PKR 329

8.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$8.77 PKR 2,434

-30.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$2.55 PKR 708

20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$4.02 PKR 1,116

27.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.09 PKR 303

22.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.66 PKR 183

27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.55 PKR 152

85.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.47 PKR 130

4.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.31 PKR 87.3

-6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.49 PKR 135

-32.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.50 PKR 138

-42.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.42 PKR 117

-9.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$0.52 PKR 145

265.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$0.52 PKR 144

165.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$0.75 PKR 209

213.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.40 PKR 665

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$7.11 PKR 1,973

198.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.06 PKR 293

19.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.06 PKR 293

-34.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$2.86 PKR 793

-42.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.10 PKR 305

20.00%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

129.98%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

10.10%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$68.4 PKR 19.0K

49.25%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$7.91 PKR 2,195

-26.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$11.74 PKR 3,258

39.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$14.72 PKR 4,083

97.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$18.27 PKR 5,070

-51.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$7.10 PKR 1,969

-29.44%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$26.47 PKR 7,344

183.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$2,005 PKR 556.3K

153.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$19.03 PKR 5,279

23.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$26.14 PKR 7,252

25.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

57.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$29.22 PKR 8,107

34.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$107 PKR 29.8K

157.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$58.1 PKR 16.1K

148.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$217 PKR 60.3K

165.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$123 PKR 34.1K

116.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$551 PKR 153.0K

196.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$249 PKR 69.2K

232.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$169 PKR 46.9K

125.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

11.83

10.57%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Faisalabad: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $107 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 126% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Faisalabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $99.0 – 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 50% more than Faisalabad, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $590 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 4% 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 $23.00 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 $589 in Islamabad and $393 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.