Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Karak Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Karak

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $428 in Karak, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $625 in Karak, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $822 in Karak, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 38% more than Karak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Karak are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Karak 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$0.75 PKR 207

376.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$7.31 PKR 2,027

211.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$5.51 PKR 1,527

-0.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$0.75 PKR 207

373.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$6.78 PKR 1,879

-1.03%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$0.56 PKR 155

326.79%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.36 PKR 98.9

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.22 PKR 60.7

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.94 PKR 261

5.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.57 PKR 157

38.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.09 PKR 302

17.43%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.11 PKR 308

15.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$1.77 PKR 490

245.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$2.87 PKR 795

6.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$4.35 PKR 1,205

17.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$0.69 PKR 191

94.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.52 PKR 144

61.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.73 PKR 203

39.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.48 PKR 134

2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.32 PKR 89.6

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.16 PKR 43.33

81.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.26 PKR 72.7

46.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.85 PKR 512

2.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.33 PKR 368

3.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.44 PKR 676

-3.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.30 PKR 638

-0.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.16 PKR 45.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$8.59 PKR 2,383

147.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.28 PKR 355

-0.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.73 PKR 203

-5.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.58 PKR 437

4.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.25 PKR 347

5.60%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

146.73%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

-1.72%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$103 PKR 28.5K

-0.84%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.81 PKR 1,611

0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$16.19 PKR 4,489

0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$16.60 PKR 4,601

75.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.78 PKR 1,326

4.81%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

-0.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$996 PKR 276.1K

410.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$23.90 PKR 6,626

-1.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$31.81 PKR 8,819

2.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$81.8 PKR 22.7K

2.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$39.51 PKR 11.0K

-0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$130 PKR 35.9K

113.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$84.3 PKR 23.4K

71.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$285 PKR 79.0K

102.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$155 PKR 43.0K

71.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$804 PKR 222.9K

103.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

$585 PKR 162.2K

41.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karak: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $130 in Karak. 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 $7.00 in Karak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $74.0 – making Karak 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 Karak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $642 in Karak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $7.00 in Karak. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad and $428 in Karak, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Karak – 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 Karak. 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.