Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Hyderabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Hyderabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $437 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $677 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $917 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 35% more than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Hyderabad 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$1.69 PKR 470

111.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,304

$10.77 PKR 2,984

111.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$4.22 PKR 1,169

29.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$2.11 PKR 585

68.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$5.64 PKR 1,564

18.97%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.07 PKR 297

123.36%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.36 PKR 101

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.24 PKR 66.7

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.83 PKR 229

19.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.56 PKR 157

41.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.20 PKR 334

6.67%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.19 PKR 331

7.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$4.28 PKR 1,186

42.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$3.13 PKR 869

-2.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$4.14 PKR 1,148

23.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.08 PKR 298

24.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.41 PKR 113

104.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.68 PKR 188

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.47 PKR 129

4.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.34 PKR 94.9

-14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.33 PKR 92.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.36 PKR 101

-19.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.44 PKR 121

-13.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$0.92 PKR 256

106.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.13 PKR 313

22.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$0.75 PKR 208

213.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$1.81 PKR 502

25.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.28

$0.20 PKR 54.2

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$10.14 PKR 2,811

109.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.65 PKR 179

95.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.21 PKR 57.0

228.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$0.70 PKR 193

135.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.16 PKR 322

13.79%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

204.59%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$25.6K PKR 7.1M

-1.96%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$104 PKR 28.9K

-2.20%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.56 PKR 1,541

4.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$12.56 PKR 3,483

30.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,065

$23.01 PKR 6,380

26.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

$3.52 PKR 975

153.69%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$3.58 PKR 993

39.94%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

49.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,321 PKR 366.1K

284.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$14.64 PKR 4,057

60.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$22.51 PKR 6,240

45.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$66.2 PKR 18.3K

26.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$35.63 PKR 9,878

10.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$137 PKR 38.0K

102.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$77.0 PKR 21.3K

87.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$301 PKR 83.4K

91.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$214 PKR 59.4K

24.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$786 PKR 217.9K

108.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 229.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.7K

$158 PKR 43.9K

140.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Hyderabad: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $137 in Hyderabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 141% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $86.0 – making Hyderabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hyderabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islamabad costs about 35% more than Hyderabad, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $655 in Hyderabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hyderabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $11.00 in Hyderabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $589 in Islamabad and $437 in Hyderabad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad and $437 in Hyderabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Hyderabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Hyderabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.