😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $534 in Islamabad versus $426 in Haripur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Islamabad versus $628 in Haripur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,160 in Islamabad versus $829 in Haripur.
🌍Living in Islamabad is roughly 25% more expensive than in Haripur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad60% lower, Haripur68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85PKR 791
$2.82PKR 782
1.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.26PKR 3,960
$7.17PKR 1,990
98.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44PKR 1,511
$5.15PKR 1,431
5.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 477
$1.75PKR 486
-1.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82PKR 1,061
$3.83PKR 1,063
-0.26%
Cappuccino
$1.97PKR 547
$1.27PKR 353
55.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.29PKR 81.1
37.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 67.0
$0.18PKR 50.0
33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 268
$0.69PKR 192
39.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66PKR 183
$0.37PKR 102
78.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28PKR 355
$0.90PKR 250
42.22%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 334
$0.89PKR 248
34.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07PKR 1,687
$6.17PKR 1,714
-1.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.37PKR 937
$1.55PKR 431
117.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.35PKR 1,209
$2.45PKR 681
77.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 289
$1.00PKR 279
4.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84PKR 234
$0.73PKR 202
15.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.94PKR 261
-3.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 156
$0.40PKR 112
40.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 115
$0.26PKR 72.3
57.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.18PKR 51.0
216.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31PKR 85.4
$0.31PKR 84.8
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41PKR 113
$0.33PKR 92.6
24.24%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.00PKR 555
$1.46PKR 406
36.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93PKR 258
$0.87PKR 240
6.90%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04PKR 567
$1.95PKR 541
4.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 595
$0.90PKR 251
137.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.51
$0.16PKR 44.36
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.22PKR 2,005
$7.20PKR 2,000
0.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.89PKR 248
-4.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.44PKR 122
-2.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.79PKR 775
$2.76PKR 766
1.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98PKR 271
$0.91PKR 253
7.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
-0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KPKR 7.2M
$26.6KPKR 7.4M
-2.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114PKR 31.6K
$114PKR 31.6K
-0.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41PKR 1,501
$5.55PKR 1,541
-2.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69PKR 5,190
$18.97PKR 5,267
-1.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.13PKR 6,144
$12.34PKR 3,425
79.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12PKR 1,698
$5.85PKR 1,625
4.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14PKR 1,150
$4.12PKR 1,143
0.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.2PKR 16.7K
$58.9PKR 16.3K
2.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,753PKR 764.4K
$1,095PKR 304.1K
151.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.08PKR 5,854
$21.69PKR 6,023
-2.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.64PKR 7,674
$28.20PKR 7,830
-1.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8PKR 24.4K
$87.6PKR 24.3K
0.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.94PKR 11.4K
$39.52PKR 11.0K
3.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199PKR 55.3K
$75.9PKR 21.1K
162.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$110PKR 30.5K
$51.0PKR 14.2K
115.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505PKR 140.1K
$164PKR 45.5K
207.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299PKR 83.0K
$104PKR 28.9K
186.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,513PKR 420.1K
$854PKR 237.2K
77.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$647PKR 179.8K
$421PKR 117.0K
53.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Haripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$385PKR 106.9K
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Haripur: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Islamabad and $75.9 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 $100 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 and in Haripur?
You'd need roughly $801 in Islamabad and $640 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 compared to Haripur?
Rent for a central apartment: $199 in Islamabad versus $75.9 in Haripur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Islamabad or in Haripur?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Islamabad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Islamabad and in 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 in 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.