😐A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $461 in Greater Noida, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $832 in Greater Noida, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $1,203 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 – Islamabad60% lower, Greater Noida66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85PKR 790
$3.28₹316
-13.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.26PKR 3,955
$17.27₹1,662
-17.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44PKR 1,509
$3.57₹344
52.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 477
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82PKR 1,059
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.97PKR 547
$1.38₹133
42.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.41₹39.16
-2.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 67.0
$0.15₹14.12
60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.42₹137
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.88₹181
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 268
$0.78₹74.7
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66PKR 183
$0.50₹48.49
32.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28PKR 354
$0.85₹81.4
50.59%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 334
$1.03₹98.9
16.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07PKR 1,685
$5.87₹565
3.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.37PKR 935
$2.86₹275
17.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.35PKR 1,207
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 289
$1.42₹137
-26.76%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84PKR 233
$0.71₹68.5
18.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91PKR 252
$0.78₹74.6
16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 156
$0.64₹62.1
-12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 115
$0.28₹27.28
46.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.44₹42.44
29.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31PKR 85.3
$0.56₹54.2
-44.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41PKR 113
$0.30₹28.83
36.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.00PKR 555
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93PKR 257
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04PKR 566
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 594
$3.99₹384
-46.37%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$4.14₹399
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62₹156
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.16₹208
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.59₹538
-
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.45
$0.59₹57.2
-71.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.22PKR 2,003
$23.23₹2,237
-68.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85PKR 236
$1.13₹108
-24.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.22₹21.15
95.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.79PKR 774
$1.61₹155
73.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98PKR 271
$1.20₹116
-18.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
$13.8K₹1.3M
51.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KPKR 7.2M
$19.8K₹1.9M
31.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114PKR 31.5K
$42.75₹4,116
165.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41PKR 1,499
$4.12₹396
31.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69PKR 5,184
$8.23₹792
127.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.13PKR 6,136
$18.79₹1,809
17.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12PKR 1,696
$4.03₹388
51.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14PKR 1,148
$4.72₹455
-12.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.2PKR 16.7K
$49.50₹4,766
21.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,753PKR 763.5K
$841₹80.9K
227.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.08PKR 5,846
$28.29₹2,724
-25.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.64PKR 7,664
$29.58₹2,848
-6.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8PKR 24.4K
$41.17₹3,964
113.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.94PKR 11.4K
$28.01₹2,697
46.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199PKR 55.2K
$203₹19.5K
-1.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$110PKR 30.5K
$127₹12.2K
-13.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505PKR 140.0K
$554₹53.4K
-8.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299PKR 82.9K
$475₹45.7K
-37.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,513PKR 419.5K
$1,101₹106.0K
37.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$647PKR 179.5K
$888₹85.5K
-27.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Greater Noida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$385PKR 106.8K
$524₹50.4K
-26.46%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Greater Noida: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $203 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 36% 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 $17.00 in Greater Noida. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Islamabad vs $98.0 in Greater Noida – so Greater Noida wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 $801 per month in Islamabad and $691 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 in Greater Noida?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Islamabad or in Greater Noida?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $17.00 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 $534 in Islamabad and $461 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.