Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Haroonabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Haroonabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $529 in Islamabad versus $444 in Haroonabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $835 in Islamabad versus $661 in Haroonabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,141 in Islamabad versus $878 in Haroonabad.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 19% more expensive than Haroonabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 61% lower, Haroonabad 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.16 PKR 602

29.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,956

$10.76 PKR 2,993

32.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,513

$4.34 PKR 1,207

25.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$2.88 PKR 801

-40.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.75 PKR 1,044

6.67%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 558

$2.38 PKR 661

-15.97%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.35 PKR 97.4

22.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.21 PKR 58.3

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.95 PKR 264

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.58 PKR 160

6.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.16 PKR 322

4.31%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,690

$5.87 PKR 1,633

3.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.43 PKR 676

39.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,219

$4.43 PKR 1,232

-1.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.01 PKR 282

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.65 PKR 180

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.61 PKR 171

52.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.48 PKR 134

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.33 PKR 90.8

24.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.48 PKR 134

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.48 PKR 133

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.36 PKR 102

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 538

$0.88 PKR 246

119.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.51 PKR 142

76.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.10 PKR 307

80.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.91 PKR 531

12.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.15 PKR 42.95

26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.09 PKR 1,972

-2.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.73 PKR 203

17.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.49 PKR 136

-10.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.82 PKR 507

54.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.91 PKR 252

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

19.53%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

14.16%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$137 PKR 38.1K

-18.38%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,513

$5.34 PKR 1,487

1.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,235

$10.49 PKR 2,919

79.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,176

$12.37 PKR 3,441

79.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,680

$5.85 PKR 1,628

3.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,172

$4.13 PKR 1,150

1.94%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$10.58 PKR 2,944

469.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.4K

$1,043 PKR 290.3K

168.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 6,001

$10.74 PKR 2,989

100.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,688

$22.47 PKR 6,254

22.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

20.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$28.15 PKR 7,834

41.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$76.0 PKR 21.1K

160.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

116.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.7K

$165 PKR 45.9K

211.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.4K

$105 PKR 29.3K

180.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.6K

$928 PKR 258.2K

67.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 183.0K

$532 PKR 148.1K

23.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

19.88

1.61%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Haroonabad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Islamabad and $76.0 in Haroonabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Islamabad vs $11.00 in Haroonabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $90.0 per month, with Haroonabad 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 Haroonabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Haroonabad wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Islamabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Haroonabad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $794 in Islamabad and $667 in Haroonabad 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: $198 in Islamabad versus $76.0 in Haroonabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $60.3 in Islamabad versus $10.58 in Haroonabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Islamabad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Haroonabad 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 Haroonabad 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 Haroonabad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.