Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Lalitpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Lalitpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $423 in Lalitpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $763 in Lalitpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $1,104 in Lalitpur, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 25% more than Lalitpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Lalitpur are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Lalitpur 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.77 NPR 271

58.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$18.88 NPR 2,891

-24.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$6.65 NPR 1,019

-18.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.60 NPR 246

25.00%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 NPR 51.0

30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.14 NPR 20.92

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 NPR 353

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 NPR 396

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.86 NPR 132

9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.55 NPR 84.8

12.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.00 NPR 153

21.00%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.66 NPR 255

-27.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$5.56 NPR 851

9.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.96 NPR 454

14.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$6.03 NPR 923

-27.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.22 NPR 340

-53.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.09 NPR 167

-28.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$1.18 NPR 181

-21.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.42 NPR 65.0

42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.46 NPR 70.0

-10.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.46 NPR 69.7

17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.53 NPR 81.2

-35.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.25 NPR 37.86

48.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$2.94 NPR 451

-27.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.11 NPR 1,243

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 NPR 335

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 NPR 382

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.17 NPR 25.38

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$2.20 NPR 336

-60.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.37 NPR 56.2

18.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$3.58 NPR 549

-21.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.22 NPR 187

-25.41%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$28.8K NPR 4.4M

-25.35%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$40.9K NPR 6.3M

-36.02%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$10.76 NPR 1,648

938.48%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.98 NPR 763

9.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$9.42 NPR 1,443

99.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$25.42 NPR 3,893

-12.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$10.72 NPR 1,641

-43.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$2.81 NPR 430

49.82%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$91.8 NPR 14.1K

-34.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$3,332 NPR 510.4K

-15.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$24.53 NPR 3,758

-12.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$21.93 NPR 3,359

25.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$50.3 NPR 7,707

75.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$39.08 NPR 5,986

2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$148 NPR 22.7K

33.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$82.9 NPR 12.7K

34.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$522 NPR 79.9K

-1.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$318 NPR 48.7K

-6.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$268 NPR 41.1K

44.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

12.08

67.22%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lalitpur: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $148 in Lalitpur. 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 44% 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 $19.00 in Lalitpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $138 – making Islamabad 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 Lalitpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 25%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $635 in Lalitpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $19.00 in Lalitpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Islamabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $423 in Lalitpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Lalitpur – 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 Lalitpur. 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.