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: $543 in Islamabad versus $347 in Gujrat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $851 in Islamabad versus $542 in Gujrat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,159 in Islamabad versus $736 in Gujrat.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 56% more expensive than Gujrat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 59% lower, Gujrat 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.74 PKR 486

64.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$10.66 PKR 2,971

33.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$3.63 PKR 1,012

44.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$2.85 PKR 794

-38.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$4.74 PKR 1,322

-19.41%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.45 PKR 403

41.38%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.31 PKR 85.7

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.24 PKR 67.3

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.76 PKR 212

26.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.60 PKR 167

1.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.31 PKR 366

-3.05%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.19 PKR 332

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$7.42 PKR 2,068

-16.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$2.66 PKR 743

31.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$3.25 PKR 907

35.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.00 PKR 279

3.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.60 PKR 166

36.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.61 PKR 170

54.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.56 PKR 156

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.34 PKR 96.0

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.55 PKR 154

-3.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.60 PKR 167

-45.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.40 PKR 111

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.40 PKR 391

40.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.73 PKR 202

26.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$2.04 PKR 569

-2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$1.84 PKR 512

12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.18 PKR 49.28

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$7.21 PKR 2,009

-3.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$1.04 PKR 289

-11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.44 PKR 121

-6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$1.80 PKR 501

52.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.91 PKR 254

7.69%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$22.1K PKR 6.2M

-3.82%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

20.86%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

89.59%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$3.72 PKR 1,037

48.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$12.80 PKR 3,568

45.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$12.44 PKR 3,467

79.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$5.98 PKR 1,668

-2.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$3.59 PKR 1,002

15.32%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$28.46 PKR 7,933

113.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$1,122 PKR 312.8K

147.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$16.26 PKR 4,533

31.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$21.66 PKR 6,038

30.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$60.0 PKR 16.7K

50.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$25.91 PKR 7,223

57.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$73.8 PKR 20.6K

170.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$51.1 PKR 14.2K

118.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$166 PKR 46.2K

209.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$105 PKR 29.4K

173.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$818 PKR 228.1K

86.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$573 PKR 159.9K

29.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

$251 PKR 69.9K

22.48%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gujrat: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Islamabad and $73.8 in Gujrat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islamabad pays 22% 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 $99.0 vs $92.0 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 56% in total monthly costs ($543 vs $347 including rent). Gujrat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Islamabad pays 22% more on average, 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: $200 in Islamabad versus $73.8 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 $543 per month in Islamabad versus $347 in Gujrat – a 56% 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 56% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.