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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $504 in Jhang, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $745 in Jhang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $987 in Jhang, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 18% more than Jhang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Jhang are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Jhang 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$2.56 PKR 710

39.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,430

$14.39 PKR 3,984

61.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.74 PKR 1,589

-5.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.62 PKR 1,004

2.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,865

$5.52 PKR 1,528

21.92%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$2.67 PKR 740

-5.99%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.0

$0.43 PKR 118

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.26 PKR 72.1

-19.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.88 PKR 243

6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.67 PKR 186

11.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.16 PKR 322

7.76%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.16 PKR 321

4.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$6.42 PKR 1,779

-5.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.52 PKR 697

26.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$4.83 PKR 1,339

13.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.19 PKR 328

5.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.69 PKR 190

17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.90 PKR 248

14.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.66 PKR 182

-21.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.28 PKR 76.5

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.6

$0.33 PKR 90.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.46 PKR 128

-34.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.34 PKR 93.2

23.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.11 PKR 308

81.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.61 PKR 170

103.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

$1.71 PKR 474

51.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.11 PKR 585

9.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.18 PKR 50.5

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

$9.27 PKR 2,568

135.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$0.87 PKR 240

48.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.74 PKR 204

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.77 PKR 490

-9.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.32 PKR 364

-5.30%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$18.2K PKR 5.0M

197.60%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$26.8K PKR 7.4M

-8.37%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$129 PKR 35.6K

-18.77%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.11 PKR 1,416

15.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,480

$16.53 PKR 4,580

-2.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,950

$16.25 PKR 4,502

76.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.21 PKR 1,167

3.80%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$45.40 PKR 12.6K

65.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,938 PKR 536.7K

162.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,946

$17.42 PKR 4,826

43.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,725

$26.94 PKR 7,462

30.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$73.8 PKR 20.4K

32.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$31.40 PKR 8,698

27.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$131 PKR 36.2K

113.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

106.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$278 PKR 77.1K

112.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.7K

$127 PKR 35.3K

117.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

$943 PKR 261.2K

72.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$494 PKR 136.9K

65.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

14.28

-8.40%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jhang: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $131 in Jhang. 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Jhang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $95.0 – making Jhang 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 Jhang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 18%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $756 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 8% 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 $23.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $504 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.