Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Gujrat Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Gujrat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $589 in Islamabad versus $413 in Gujrat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Islamabad versus $641 in Gujrat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,246 in Islamabad versus $868 in Gujrat.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 43% more expensive than in Gujrat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Gujrat 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$1.83 PKR 508

95.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$10.75 PKR 2,979

111.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$5.27 PKR 1,460

3.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$2.45 PKR 678

44.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$2.19 PKR 608

206.39%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.51 PKR 419

58.28%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.47 PKR 131

-31.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.32 PKR 89.9

-31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.83 PKR 231

19.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.65 PKR 181

21.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.27 PKR 353

0.79%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.23 PKR 341

4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$8.50 PKR 2,358

-28.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$2.52 PKR 699

21.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$4.04 PKR 1,119

26.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.09 PKR 301

22.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.67 PKR 186

25.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.58 PKR 160

75.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.51 PKR 141

-3.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.31 PKR 87.3

-6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.52 PKR 144

-36.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.53 PKR 148

-45.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.43 PKR 119

-11.63%

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

$0.56 PKR 156

146.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$0.74 PKR 206

217.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.39 PKR 663

-4.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.18 PKR 49.86

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$9.71 PKR 2,693

118.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.75 PKR 209

69.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.10 PKR 305

-37.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$2.65 PKR 736

-37.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.84 PKR 234

57.14%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

133.20%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

7.75%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$66.3 PKR 18.4K

54.02%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.72 PKR 1,586

1.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$14.25 PKR 3,951

14.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$14.37 PKR 3,983

102.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$7.03 PKR 1,948

-28.73%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$26.25 PKR 7,277

185.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$2,047 PKR 567.4K

148.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$18.80 PKR 5,211

25.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$26.39 PKR 7,316

23.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$54.2 PKR 15.0K

54.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$29.92 PKR 8,296

31.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$139 PKR 38.6K

98.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$79.7 PKR 22.1K

80.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$237 PKR 65.7K

143.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$151 PKR 41.9K

76.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$969 PKR 268.5K

68.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

$495 PKR 137.4K

67.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$244 PKR 67.6K

56.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

18.91%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gujrat: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Islamabad and $139 in Gujrat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 56% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $11.00 in Gujrat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $99.0 per month, with Gujrat cheaper across the board.

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 Gujrat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad and Gujrat differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($589 vs $413 including rent). Gujrat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Islamabad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Islamabad versus $139 in Gujrat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Gujrat – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $23.00 in Islamabad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $589 per month in Islamabad versus $413 in Gujrat – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Gujrat gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Islamabad and Gujrat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gujrat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.