Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Jhelum Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Jhelum

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $390 in Jhelum, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $596 in Jhelum, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $803 in Jhelum, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 52% more than Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Jhelum are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Jhelum 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$1.76 PKR 488

102.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$10.62 PKR 2,943

118.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.25 PKR 1,456

3.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$2.55 PKR 707

45.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$2.19 PKR 607

207.31%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.52 PKR 422

65.13%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.47 PKR 131

-29.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.32 PKR 89.2

-34.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.63 PKR 174

49.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.66 PKR 182

13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.27 PKR 351

-1.57%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$2.66 PKR 738

127.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.33 PKR 645

37.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$2.62 PKR 725

108.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.04 PKR 287

20.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.35 PKR 96.5

131.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.55 PKR 152

87.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.47 PKR 129

10.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.31 PKR 87.0

-16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.37 PKR 104

-10.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.54 PKR 150

-44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.42 PKR 117

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.78 PKR 494

12.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.53 PKR 146

133.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$2.61 PKR 722

-0.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.36 PKR 653

-1.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.18 PKR 48.68

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$9.48 PKR 2,625

130.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.05 PKR 291

22.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.06 PKR 295

-30.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$2.84 PKR 788

-43.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.11 PKR 308

12.61%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

127.42%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

4.98%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$66.3 PKR 18.4K

57.61%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.65 PKR 1,566

4.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$14.69 PKR 4,070

10.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$15.16 PKR 4,198

89.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$7.29 PKR 2,020

-40.05%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$26.13 PKR 7,237

186.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$2,033 PKR 563.1K

150.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$18.92 PKR 5,241

32.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$26.69 PKR 7,395

31.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$54.8 PKR 15.2K

77.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$30.28 PKR 8,389

31.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$142 PKR 39.4K

95.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$72.2 PKR 20.0K

91.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$226 PKR 62.7K

160.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$161 PKR 44.5K

72.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$992 PKR 274.8K

63.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$494 PKR 136.9K

65.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

11.83

10.57%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $142 in Jhelum. 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 $11.00 in Jhelum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $71.0 – making Jhelum 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 Jhelum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $585 in Jhelum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $11.00 in Jhelum. 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 $390 in Jhelum, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jhelum – 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 Jhelum. 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.