😐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: Islamabad61% lower, Haripur68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80PKR 779
$2.81PKR 782
-0.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,955
$7.27PKR 2,021
95.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44PKR 1,512
$5.15PKR 1,433
5.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 478
$1.75PKR 488
-1.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00PKR 1,112
$3.91PKR 1,087
2.30%
Cappuccino
$2.00PKR 557
$1.26PKR 350
58.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.27PKR 74.8
59.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.1
$0.16PKR 44.30
37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94PKR 260
$0.69PKR 192
36.23%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 173
$0.37PKR 102
67.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 338
$0.92PKR 255
31.52%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 335
$0.91PKR 253
31.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07PKR 1,689
$6.02PKR 1,674
0.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 942
$1.61PKR 447
110.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.38PKR 1,218
$2.44PKR 679
79.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$1.00PKR 277
3.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78PKR 216
$0.69PKR 191
13.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 260
$0.94PKR 263
-1.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.40PKR 112
50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 115
$0.24PKR 66.2
70.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54PKR 149
$0.19PKR 52.0
184.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.3
$0.31PKR 86.0
9.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.34PKR 94.5
8.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.93PKR 537
$1.32PKR 366
46.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90PKR 251
$0.92PKR 255
-2.17%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99PKR 552
$1.95PKR 541
2.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 596
$0.84PKR 233
154.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.2
$0.17PKR 47.39
11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.90PKR 1,921
$7.00PKR 1,948
-1.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 238
$0.85PKR 237
1.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.44PKR 122
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.81PKR 782
$2.81PKR 783
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.90PKR 251
1.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
$21.0KPKR 5.9M
2.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KPKR 7.3M
$26.5KPKR 7.4M
-1.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.1K
$114PKR 31.8K
-2.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.44PKR 1,512
$5.62PKR 1,564
-3.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81PKR 5,234
$18.95PKR 5,272
-0.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.19PKR 6,174
$12.44PKR 3,460
78.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04PKR 1,679
$5.87PKR 1,633
2.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21PKR 1,171
$4.27PKR 1,187
-1.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.3PKR 16.8K
$59.6PKR 16.6K
1.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,805PKR 780.2K
$1,119PKR 311.4K
150.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.57PKR 5,999
$21.31PKR 5,928
1.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.63PKR 7,686
$27.97PKR 7,780
-1.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1PKR 24.5K
$88.5PKR 24.6K
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$40.02PKR 11.1K
-0.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198PKR 55.1K
$73.7PKR 20.5K
168.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$112PKR 31.1K
$52.2PKR 14.5K
114.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513PKR 142.6K
$169PKR 47.1K
202.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296PKR 82.3K
$105PKR 29.1K
183.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,551PKR 431.4K
$846PKR 235.3K
83.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$657PKR 182.9K
$519PKR 144.4K
26.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$387PKR 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.