Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Jhang Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Jhang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $368 in Jhang, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $584 in Jhang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $800 in Jhang, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 47% more than Jhang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Jhang are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Jhang 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.74 PKR 486

64.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$14.28 PKR 3,981

-0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$3.48 PKR 969

50.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$2.78 PKR 776

-37.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$3.72 PKR 1,038

2.69%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$2.30 PKR 640

-10.87%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 91.1

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.58 PKR 161

65.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.62 PKR 172

-1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.22 PKR 340

4.10%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.08 PKR 301

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$5.89 PKR 1,641

4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$3.08 PKR 858

13.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$4.59 PKR 1,279

-4.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.03 PKR 286

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.60 PKR 168

36.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.60 PKR 168

56.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.45 PKR 125

24.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.35 PKR 97.8

8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.48 PKR 133

10.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.48 PKR 133

-31.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.36 PKR 101

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$0.70 PKR 195

180.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.51 PKR 141

80.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$1.12 PKR 312

76.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$0.83 PKR 231

149.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.17 PKR 48.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$7.17 PKR 1,997

-2.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.69 PKR 193

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.53 PKR 147

-22.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$1.76 PKR 490

56.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.82 PKR 229

19.51%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$17.3K PKR 4.8M

22.79%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

14.40%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$70.9 PKR 19.8K

57.27%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$3.99 PKR 1,112

38.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$10.42 PKR 2,904

79.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$12.36 PKR 3,445

80.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$5.99 PKR 1,670

-2.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$3.65 PKR 1,016

13.42%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$15.82 PKR 4,409

284.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$1,230 PKR 342.9K

126.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$15.43 PKR 4,302

38.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$21.52 PKR 6,000

31.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

21.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$30.07 PKR 8,383

35.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$76.0 PKR 21.2K

163.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$52.8 PKR 14.7K

111.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$167 PKR 46.5K

207.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$107 PKR 29.8K

169.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$798 PKR 222.5K

91.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$581 PKR 161.9K

27.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

$144 PKR 40.1K

113.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

12.22%

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

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jhang: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $76.0 in Jhang. 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 113% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Jhang. Groceries tell a different story – $99.0 in Islamabad vs $90.0 in Jhang – so Jhang 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 Jhang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 47%, 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 $814 per month in Islamabad and $553 in Jhang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 11% 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 Jhang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $543 in Islamabad and $368 in Jhang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jhang – 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 Jhang. 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.