Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Layyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Layyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $337 in Layyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $522 in Layyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $708 in Layyah, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 57% more than Layyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Layyah are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Layyah 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.82 PKR 505

53.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$10.80 PKR 3,004

31.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.49 PKR 972

55.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$2.77 PKR 771

-37.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$4.79 PKR 1,331

-16.49%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.45 PKR 402

37.93%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 PKR 92.4

30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.24 PKR 66.9

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.48 PKR 134

95.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.34 PKR 94.1

82.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.25 PKR 348

-3.20%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.08 PKR 301

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$5.91 PKR 1,645

2.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.35 PKR 653

44.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$3.03 PKR 842

44.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.72 PKR 201

43.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.36 PKR 101

116.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.67 PKR 186

38.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.49 PKR 136

22.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 97.4

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.54 PKR 151

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.63 PKR 177

-46.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.34 PKR 93.8

8.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.04 PKR 288

85.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.70 PKR 194

28.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.02 PKR 561

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.90 PKR 528

12.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.20 PKR 56.4

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.05 PKR 1,962

-2.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.09 PKR 302

-21.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.40 PKR 112

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.79 PKR 498

56.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.97 PKR 271

-6.19%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

-4.21%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

22.32%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$57.9 PKR 16.1K

93.12%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.64 PKR 1,012

49.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$12.77 PKR 3,553

47.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$12.53 PKR 3,485

77.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$6.02 PKR 1,674

0.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.58 PKR 997

17.60%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$17.43 PKR 4,848

245.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$523 PKR 145.6K

435.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$16.06 PKR 4,468

34.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$22.05 PKR 6,134

25.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

45.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$26.05 PKR 7,248

53.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

161.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

115.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$167 PKR 46.4K

207.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$104 PKR 29.0K

183.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$874 PKR 243.1K

77.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$500 PKR 139.1K

31.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Layyah: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $75.8 in Layyah. 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Layyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $76.0 – making Layyah 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 Layyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 57%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $505 in Layyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $11.00 in Layyah. 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 $529 in Islamabad and $337 in Layyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Layyah – 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 Layyah. 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.