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: $589 in Islamabad versus $502 in Haripur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Islamabad versus $772 in Haripur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,246 in Islamabad versus $1,042 in Haripur.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 17% more expensive than in Haripur, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Haripur 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.65 PKR 1,012

-2.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$23.18 PKR 6,425

-1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$5.27 PKR 1,461

3.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$3.65 PKR 1,011

-2.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$6.67 PKR 1,851

0.60%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.50 PKR 695

-4.40%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.33 PKR 90.2

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.24 PKR 66.5

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.98 PKR 271

1.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.72 PKR 201

9.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.21 PKR 335

5.79%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.30 PKR 361

-1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$6.12 PKR 1,697

-0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$3.17 PKR 880

-3.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$5.35 PKR 1,482

-4.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.33 PKR 368

0.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.87 PKR 240

-3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.07 PKR 296

-4.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.46 PKR 127

6.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.27 PKR 74.3

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.35 PKR 97.9

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.29 PKR 80.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.42 PKR 116

-9.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.75 PKR 485

8.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.39 PKR 384

-0.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.44 PKR 677

-3.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.32 PKR 644

-1.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.19 PKR 51.5

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$11.35 PKR 3,147

87.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.28 PKR 356

-0.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.71 PKR 196

-2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.64 PKR 453

0.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.31 PKR 364

0.76%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

150.79%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

-1.74%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

-0.11%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.86 PKR 1,625

-0.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$16.22 PKR 4,498

0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$12.68 PKR 3,515

129.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.73 PKR 1,311

5.92%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

2.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,003 PKR 278.0K

407.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$24.05 PKR 6,669

-2.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$32.26 PKR 8,945

1.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$83.8 PKR 23.2K

-0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$39.54 PKR 11.0K

-0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$119 PKR 32.9K

133.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$77.1 PKR 21.4K

87.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$247 PKR 68.5K

133.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$144 PKR 40.0K

84.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$1,030 PKR 285.4K

58.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

$520 PKR 144.1K

59.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Haripur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Islamabad and $119 in Haripur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $23.00 in Haripur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $103 per month, with Islamabad 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

Haripur wins on cost – living expenses run 17% 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.

You'd need roughly $884 in Islamabad and $753 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Islamabad versus $119 in Haripur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Islamabad pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Haripur – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $23.00 in Islamabad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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 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.

Expats usually find Haripur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.