Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Gujranwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Gujranwala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $395 in Gujranwala, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $624 in Gujranwala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $853 in Gujranwala, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 49% more than Gujranwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.58 PKR 992

-0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$12.47 PKR 3,458

82.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$5.45 PKR 1,511

0.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$0.89 PKR 247

298.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$6.75 PKR 1,873

-0.59%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.14 PKR 315

109.65%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.21 PKR 58.2

52.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.16 PKR 44.89

37.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.86 PKR 238

15.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.73 PKR 202

8.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.13 PKR 314

13.27%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.27 PKR 353

0.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$6.05 PKR 1,676

0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$2.38 PKR 659

28.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$5.19 PKR 1,438

-1.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.34 PKR 373

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.83 PKR 230

1.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.92 PKR 255

10.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.48 PKR 134

2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.32 PKR 89.7

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.27 PKR 73.8

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 101

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.82 PKR 506

4.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.10 PKR 305

25.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.42 PKR 671

-2.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.18 PKR 606

4.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.19 PKR 52.1

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.95 PKR 262

33.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.69 PKR 190

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.46 PKR 405

13.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.14 PKR 317

15.79%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

199.47%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

17.46%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$102 PKR 28.1K

0.59%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.49 PKR 1,522

6.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$16.34 PKR 4,529

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$7.18 PKR 1,989

305.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

$5.94 PKR 1,646

50.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.24 PKR 1,175

18.16%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$28.01 PKR 7,765

167.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$961 PKR 266.5K

428.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$14.42 PKR 3,998

63.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$24.95 PKR 6,916

30.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$73.4 PKR 20.3K

13.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$33.45 PKR 9,275

17.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$54.7 PKR 15.2K

405.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$31.57 PKR 8,754

356.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$162 PKR 44.8K

256.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$96.7 PKR 26.8K

175.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$238 PKR 66.0K

60.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

11.5

13.74%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gujranwala: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $54.7 in Gujranwala. 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 60% 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 $12.00 in Gujranwala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $96.0 – making Gujranwala 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 Gujranwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $589 in Islamabad, $395 in Gujranwala – roughly 49% apart. Islamabad costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $593 in Gujranwala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $12.00 in Gujranwala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad and $395 in Gujranwala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Gujranwala – 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 Gujranwala. 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.