😐A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $458 in Greater Noida, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $828 in Greater Noida, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $1,199 in Greater Noida, rent included.
😐Islamabad costs about 16% more than Greater Noida, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Islamabad and Greater Noida are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad61% lower, Greater Noida66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80PKR 779
$3.18₹303
-11.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,955
$17.73₹1,689
-19.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44PKR 1,512
$3.52₹335
54.55%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 478
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00PKR 1,112
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.00PKR 557
$1.33₹127
50.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.44₹41.66
-2.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.1
$0.16₹15.68
37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.38₹131
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.93₹184
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94PKR 260
$0.72₹68.8
30.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 173
$0.48₹45.45
29.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 338
$0.78₹74.4
55.13%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 335
$1.05₹100
14.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07PKR 1,690
$5.95₹567
2.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 942
$2.90₹276
16.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.38PKR 1,218
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$1.46₹139
-29.45%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78PKR 216
$0.73₹69.8
6.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 260
$0.71₹67.5
30.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.69₹65.5
-13.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 115
$0.26₹24.76
57.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54PKR 149
$0.41₹39.34
31.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.3
$0.57₹54.0
-40.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.32₹30.51
15.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.93PKR 538
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90PKR 251
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99PKR 553
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 596
$4.05₹386
-47.16%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$4.22₹402
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.61₹153
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.17₹206
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.71₹544
-
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.2
$0.60₹57.4
-68.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.90PKR 1,921
$23.42₹2,231
-70.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 238
$1.14₹109
-24.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.24₹22.95
83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.81PKR 782
$1.55₹148
81.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 253
$1.18₹112
-22.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
$14.1K₹1.3M
52.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KPKR 7.3M
$19.8K₹1.9M
32.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.1K
$43.23₹4,118
158.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.44PKR 1,512
$4.08₹388
33.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81PKR 5,234
$8.15₹777
130.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.19PKR 6,174
$19.06₹1,816
16.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04PKR 1,679
$4.01₹382
50.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21PKR 1,171
$4.54₹432
-7.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.3PKR 16.8K
$50.8₹4,843
18.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,805PKR 780.2K
$839₹80.0K
234.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.57PKR 5,999
$28.27₹2,693
-23.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.63PKR 7,686
$30.23₹2,879
-8.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1PKR 24.5K
$40.90₹3,896
115.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$27.95₹2,662
42.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198PKR 55.1K
$201₹19.2K
-1.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$112PKR 31.1K
$127₹12.1K
-11.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513PKR 142.6K
$563₹53.6K
-8.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296PKR 82.3K
$465₹44.3K
-36.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,551PKR 431.4K
$1,105₹105.2K
40.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$657PKR 182.9K
$900₹85.7K
-26.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$387PKR 107.8K
$565₹53.8K
-31.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.2
8.47
138.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026
Last update for Greater Noida: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $201 in Greater Noida. 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 46% higher in Greater Noida, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $18.00 in Greater Noida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $98.0 – making Islamabad 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 Greater Noida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greater Noida cheaper than Islamabad?
Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad and $686 in Greater Noida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Greater Noida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Islamabad and Greater Noida?
Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Islamabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Islamabad or Greater Noida?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $18.00 in Greater Noida. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Islamabad or Greater Noida?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $458 in Greater Noida, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Islamabad or Greater Noida more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Greater Noida – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Islamabad or Greater Noida?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Greater Noida. 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.