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: $537 in Islamabad versus $354 in Gujrat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $845 in Islamabad versus $539 in Gujrat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,154 in Islamabad versus $723 in Gujrat.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 52% more expensive than in Gujrat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 60% lower, Gujrat 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PKR 768

$1.82 PKR 506

51.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.32 PKR 3,979

$10.63 PKR 2,954

34.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,454

$3.57 PKR 993

46.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.88 PKR 800

-39.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PKR 1,096

$4.65 PKR 1,292

-15.27%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.45 PKR 404

43.45%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.33 PKR 92.8

21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.22 PKR 61.1

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 277

$0.76 PKR 210

31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.60 PKR 168

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.30 PKR 360

-3.08%

Eggs

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.14 PKR 318

10.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,746

$7.36 PKR 2,046

-14.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.54 PKR 707

33.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.27 PKR 909

32.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.03 PKR 285

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.59 PKR 164

42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.62 PKR 173

45.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.57 PKR 157

5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 96.6

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.56 PKR 154

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.58 PKR 162

-46.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.40 PKR 111

2.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$0.97 PKR 270

106.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.73 PKR 204

27.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 545

$2.06 PKR 573

-4.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.83 PKR 510

12.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.80

$0.18 PKR 48.89

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,960

$7.02 PKR 1,951

0.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.03 PKR 287

-12.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.44 PKR 122

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 PKR 793

$1.74 PKR 485

63.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.97 PKR 270

1.03%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

-4.90%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

24.92%

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

$112 PKR 31.2K

$58.1 PKR 16.1K

93.24%

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

$5.37 PKR 1,492

$3.86 PKR 1,074

39.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.53 PKR 5,151

$12.91 PKR 3,590

43.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.84 PKR 6,350

$12.61 PKR 3,505

81.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 PKR 1,670

$5.75 PKR 1,600

4.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 PKR 1,158

$3.63 PKR 1,009

14.88%

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

$59.2 PKR 16.5K

$28.20 PKR 7,838

110.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,812 PKR 781.7K

$1,114 PKR 309.6K

152.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.16 PKR 5,882

$16.29 PKR 4,529

29.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 PKR 7,825

$21.84 PKR 6,071

28.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$59.0 PKR 16.4K

52.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 PKR 11.0K

$26.35 PKR 7,325

49.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

166.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$52.1 PKR 14.5K

114.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.1K

$165 PKR 45.8K

212.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.8K

$104 PKR 29.0K

185.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.4K

$950 PKR 264.2K

59.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$637 PKR 177.2K

$414 PKR 115.0K

54.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$382 PKR 106.2K

$250 PKR 69.4K

52.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

12.22%

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

Last update for Islamabad: June 15, 2026

Last update for Gujrat: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Islamabad and $73.7 in Gujrat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 53% 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: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $11.00 in Gujrat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $91.0 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 52% in total monthly costs ($537 vs $354 including rent). Gujrat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 53% 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: $197 in Islamabad versus $73.7 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 $14.00 in Islamabad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $537 per month in Islamabad versus $354 in Gujrat – a 52% 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 52% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.