Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Haripur Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Haripur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $529 in Islamabad versus $422 in Haripur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $835 in Islamabad versus $625 in Haripur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,141 in Islamabad versus $828 in Haripur.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 25% more expensive than Haripur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 61% lower, Haripur 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 PKR 779
$2.81 PKR 782
-0.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22 PKR 3,955
$7.27 PKR 2,021
95.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 PKR 1,512
$5.15 PKR 1,433
5.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 PKR 478
$1.75 PKR 488
-1.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 PKR 1,112
$3.91 PKR 1,087
2.30%
Cappuccino
$2.00 PKR 557
$1.26 PKR 350
58.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKR 119
$0.27 PKR 74.8
59.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 PKR 61.1
$0.16 PKR 44.30
37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 PKR 260
$0.69 PKR 192
36.23%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 PKR 173
$0.37 PKR 102
67.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 PKR 338
$0.92 PKR 255
31.52%
Eggs
$1.20 PKR 335
$0.91 PKR 253
31.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.07 PKR 1,689
$6.02 PKR 1,674
0.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 PKR 942
$1.61 PKR 447
110.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.38 PKR 1,218
$2.44 PKR 679
79.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 287
$1.00 PKR 277
3.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 PKR 216
$0.69 PKR 191
13.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 PKR 260
$0.94 PKR 263
-1.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 PKR 166
$0.40 PKR 112
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 PKR 115
$0.24 PKR 66.2
70.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 149
$0.19 PKR 52.0
184.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 PKR 93.3
$0.31 PKR 86.0
9.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.34 PKR 94.5
8.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.93 PKR 537
$1.32 PKR 366
46.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.92 PKR 255
-2.17%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 PKR 552
$1.95 PKR 541
2.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 PKR 596
$0.84 PKR 233
154.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 52.2
$0.17 PKR 47.39
11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,921
$7.00 PKR 1,948
-1.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 PKR 238
$0.85 PKR 237
1.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 122
$0.44 PKR 122
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 PKR 782
$2.81 PKR 783
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.90 PKR 251
1.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PKR 6.0M
$21.0K PKR 5.9M
2.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K PKR 7.3M
$26.5K PKR 7.4M
-1.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 PKR 31.1K
$114 PKR 31.8K
-2.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.44 PKR 1,512
$5.62 PKR 1,564
-3.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81 PKR 5,234
$18.95 PKR 5,272
-0.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.19 PKR 6,174
$12.44 PKR 3,460
78.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04 PKR 1,679
$5.87 PKR 1,633
2.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21 PKR 1,171
$4.27 PKR 1,187
-1.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.3 PKR 16.8K
$59.6 PKR 16.6K
1.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,805 PKR 780.2K
$1,119 PKR 311.4K
150.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.57 PKR 5,999
$21.31 PKR 5,928
1.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.63 PKR 7,686
$27.97 PKR 7,780
-1.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 PKR 24.5K
$88.5 PKR 24.6K
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.91 PKR 11.1K
$40.02 PKR 11.1K
-0.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 PKR 55.1K
$73.7 PKR 20.5K
168.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.1K
$52.2 PKR 14.5K
114.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 PKR 142.6K
$169 PKR 47.1K
202.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 PKR 82.3K
$105 PKR 29.1K
183.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,551 PKR 431.4K
$846 PKR 235.3K
83.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$657 PKR 182.9K
$519 PKR 144.4K
26.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$387 PKR 107.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
20.2
-

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Haripur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Islamabad and $73.7 in Haripur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $7.00 in Haripur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $73.0 per month, with Haripur 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 Haripur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Islamabad or Haripur?
Haripur wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Islamabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Haripur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Islamabad vs Haripur?
You'd need roughly $794 in Islamabad and $634 in Haripur to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Islamabad vs Haripur?
Rent for a central apartment: $198 in Islamabad versus $73.7 in Haripur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Islamabad or Haripur?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Islamabad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Islamabad vs Haripur?
Dining out is cheaper in Haripur – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $14.00 in Islamabad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Islamabad or Haripur?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Haripur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Islamabad or Haripur?
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.
How safe is Islamabad compared to Haripur?
Safety-wise, Islamabad and Haripur are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Haripur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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