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: $589 in Islamabad versus $488 in Haroonabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Islamabad versus $716 in Haroonabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,246 in Islamabad versus $945 in Haroonabad.

Living in Islamabad is roughly 21% more expensive than in Haroonabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Islamabad 57% lower, Haroonabad 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$2.56 PKR 710

39.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,304

$10.84 PKR 3,005

109.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$5.71 PKR 1,582

-4.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$3.68 PKR 1,019

-3.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$5.25 PKR 1,456

27.81%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.49 PKR 689

-4.02%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.39 PKR 109

-17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.26 PKR 72.5

-15.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.91 PKR 252

8.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.67 PKR 185

17.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.18 PKR 327

8.47%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.24 PKR 345

3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$6.31 PKR 1,750

-3.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$2.52 PKR 698

21.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$4.75 PKR 1,318

7.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.16 PKR 322

15.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.63 PKR 174

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.82 PKR 227

24.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.64 PKR 178

-23.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.28 PKR 77.0

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.33 PKR 91.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.48 PKR 134

-39.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 103

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.06 PKR 293

79.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$0.60 PKR 167

130.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$1.65 PKR 456

42.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.10 PKR 581

8.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.28

$0.17 PKR 46.04

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$10.60 PKR 2,938

100.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.88 PKR 244

44.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.69 PKR 192

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.84 PKR 509

-10.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.28 PKR 355

3.13%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

197.28%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-5.77%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$121 PKR 33.5K

-15.55%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.38 PKR 1,493

8.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$10.67 PKR 2,958

53.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,065

$15.17 PKR 4,205

91.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.41 PKR 1,224

13.61%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$10.84 PKR 3,004

592.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,062 PKR 294.5K

378.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$10.66 PKR 2,956

120.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$25.55 PKR 7,084

27.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

12.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$28.50 PKR 7,901

37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$122 PKR 33.8K

127.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$84.3 PKR 23.4K

71.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$248 PKR 68.6K

133.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$163 PKR 45.1K

63.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$834 PKR 231.3K

95.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 229.9K

$588 PKR 163.1K

41.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

14.22

-8.02%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Haroonabad: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Islamabad and $122 in Haroonabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Islamabad vs $11.00 in Haroonabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $95.0 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 21% 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 $884 in Islamabad and $732 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: $277 in Islamabad versus $122 in Haroonabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $75.0 in Islamabad versus $10.84 in Haroonabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% 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 21% less than in Islamabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.