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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Islamabad vs $373 in Jhang, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Islamabad vs $585 in Jhang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Islamabad vs $797 in Jhang, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 42% more than Jhang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Jhang are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Jhang 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 803

$1.81 PKR 503

59.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$14.17 PKR 3,934

-0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$3.46 PKR 959

56.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.81 PKR 780

-37.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$3.63 PKR 1,007

4.41%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$2.29 PKR 636

-13.54%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.32 PKR 89.9

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.57 PKR 160

78.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.61 PKR 168

1.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.08 PKR 300

12.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$5.95 PKR 1,650

1.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$2.97 PKR 824

13.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$4.50 PKR 1,248

-0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$1.06 PKR 293

-5.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.64 PKR 178

31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.56 PKR 157

66.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.48 PKR 134

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.36 PKR 99.0

13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.49 PKR 136

18.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.44 PKR 123

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.36 PKR 100

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.06 PKR 294

79.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.51 PKR 140

66.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$1.10 PKR 306

78.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$0.78 PKR 217

169.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.21 PKR 56.9

-23.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$7.13 PKR 1,978

0.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.69 PKR 192

21.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.53 PKR 147

-16.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$1.80 PKR 499

59.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.84 PKR 233

10.71%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

17.45%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

12.97%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$71.2 PKR 19.7K

58.81%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$3.87 PKR 1,073

39.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$10.76 PKR 2,986

72.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$12.32 PKR 3,419

85.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$6.08 PKR 1,688

-0.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.60 PKR 999

20.83%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$16.18 PKR 4,490

273.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$1,250 PKR 347.0K

123.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$14.94 PKR 4,147

41.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,806

$21.55 PKR 5,982

30.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$71.3 PKR 19.8K

26.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$30.63 PKR 8,501

31.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

167.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

112.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$170 PKR 47.2K

201.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$106 PKR 29.5K

182.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$873 PKR 242.4K

79.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$485 PKR 134.5K

33.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

$146 PKR 40.6K

164.65%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Jhang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $73.7 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 165% 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 $89.0 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 42%, 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 $798 per month in Islamabad and $560 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 $532 in Islamabad and $373 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.