Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Jaranwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Jaranwala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $416 in Jaranwala, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $640 in Jaranwala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $863 in Jaranwala, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 27% more than Jaranwala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Jaranwala are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Jaranwala 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.74 PKR 484

60.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$14.11 PKR 3,925

0.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.16 PKR 1,435

5.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.55 PKR 430

10.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.41 PKR 948

17.30%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.73 PKR 480

15.61%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.34 PKR 94.9

26.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.21 PKR 58.3

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.78 PKR 218

20.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.55 PKR 154

12.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.24 PKR 345

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.17 PKR 325

2.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.08 PKR 1,692

-0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.39 PKR 943

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$4.51 PKR 1,255

-2.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.01 PKR 281

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.67 PKR 187

16.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.90 PKR 250

3.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.51 PKR 142

17.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.36 PKR 101

13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.48 PKR 134

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.26 PKR 72.8

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.40 PKR 111

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.34 PKR 371

44.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.02 PKR 285

-11.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.38 PKR 662

-16.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.93 PKR 536

10.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.18 PKR 50.9

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.19 PKR 2,000

-4.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.89 PKR 248

-3.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.40 PKR 112

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$3.05 PKR 849

-7.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.90 PKR 251

1.11%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

19.62%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

14.49%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$103 PKR 28.6K

8.86%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.01 PKR 1,116

35.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$16.50 PKR 4,591

14.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$12.58 PKR 3,498

76.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$5.87 PKR 1,634

2.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.63 PKR 1,010

15.98%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$40.35 PKR 11.2K

49.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$943 PKR 262.2K

197.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$11.65 PKR 3,240

85.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$18.66 PKR 5,191

48.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$28.43 PKR 7,908

40.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$74.3 PKR 20.7K

166.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.2 PKR 14.3K

118.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$170 PKR 47.2K

201.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$107 PKR 29.7K

177.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$861 PKR 239.6K

80.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$462 PKR 128.4K

42.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

20.17

0.15%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Jaranwala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $74.3 in Jaranwala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Jaranwala. Groceries tell a different story – $98.0 in Islamabad vs $95.0 in Jaranwala – so Jaranwala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jaranwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad and $624 in Jaranwala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 3% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $14.00 in Jaranwala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $416 in Jaranwala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jaranwala – 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 Jaranwala. 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.