Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mandi Bahauddin Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mandi Bahauddin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $332 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $512 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $692 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 64% more than Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Mandi Bahauddin are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Mandi Bahauddin 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.78 PKR 496

61.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$8.58 PKR 2,393

65.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$3.52 PKR 982

48.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$2.77 PKR 772

-37.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$4.81 PKR 1,340

-20.58%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.08 PKR 300

89.81%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 93.3

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.74 PKR 207

29.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.40 PKR 112

52.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.31 PKR 365

-3.05%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.19 PKR 333

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$6.13 PKR 1,708

0.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$2.66 PKR 742

31.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$3.22 PKR 897

36.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.55 PKR 153

49.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.62 PKR 173

51.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.56 PKR 157

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.34 PKR 96.1

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.51 PKR 143

3.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.59 PKR 164

-44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.40 PKR 111

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.42 PKR 396

38.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.72 PKR 201

27.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$1.89 PKR 528

9.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.20 PKR 55.7

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$6.90 PKR 1,922

1.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$1.04 PKR 290

-11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.49 PKR 135

-16.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$1.76 PKR 489

56.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.96 PKR 269

2.08%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-4.70%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

22.56%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

93.88%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$3.88 PKR 1,080

42.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$12.68 PKR 3,536

47.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$12.29 PKR 3,425

81.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$6.07 PKR 1,692

-3.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$3.50 PKR 977

18.29%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$28.27 PKR 7,880

115.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$1,140 PKR 317.7K

144.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$16.53 PKR 4,607

29.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$21.66 PKR 6,038

30.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$60.0 PKR 16.7K

50.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$25.71 PKR 7,167

59.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$76.1 PKR 21.2K

162.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

115.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$165 PKR 46.1K

209.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$107 PKR 29.8K

169.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$893 PKR 248.9K

70.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$524 PKR 146.0K

41.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $76.1 in Mandi Bahauddin. 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 $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99.0 vs $86.0 – making Mandi Bahauddin 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 Mandi Bahauddin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 64%, 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 $814 per month in Islamabad and $498 in Mandi Bahauddin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin. 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 $543 in Islamabad and $332 in Mandi Bahauddin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mandi Bahauddin – 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 Mandi Bahauddin. 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.