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 $593 per month in Islamabad vs $399 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $616 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $832 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 49% more than Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Mandi Bahauddin are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Mandi Bahauddin 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$1.85 PKR 512

92.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,430

$8.95 PKR 2,478

159.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$4.46 PKR 1,235

21.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$2.59 PKR 716

43.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,865

$2.18 PKR 605

208.72%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.06 PKR 293

136.79%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.0

$0.45 PKR 124

-26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.26 PKR 72.4

-19.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.73 PKR 203

28.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.41 PKR 115

82.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.27 PKR 350

-1.57%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.24 PKR 344

-2.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$8.72 PKR 2,414

-30.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.51 PKR 695

27.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$3.90 PKR 1,080

40.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.07 PKR 297

16.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.66 PKR 182

22.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.57 PKR 159

80.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.50 PKR 139

4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.31 PKR 86.3

-16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.6

$0.52 PKR 145

-36.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.50 PKR 139

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.39 PKR 109

7.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$0.52 PKR 144

286.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.53 PKR 147

133.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

$0.70 PKR 194

270.00%

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

$0.20 PKR 54.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

$10.36 PKR 2,869

111.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.05 PKR 292

22.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.05 PKR 292

-29.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$2.91 PKR 807

-44.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.15 PKR 317

8.70%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

128.54%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

7.45%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$66.7 PKR 18.5K

56.59%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.57 PKR 1,543

5.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,480

$14.72 PKR 4,078

9.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,950

$14.51 PKR 4,019

97.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$7.35 PKR 2,036

-40.54%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$26.86 PKR 7,439

178.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,988 PKR 550.7K

155.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,946

$18.84 PKR 5,218

33.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,725

$26.73 PKR 7,404

31.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$54.8 PKR 15.2K

77.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$29.36 PKR 8,131

35.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$138 PKR 38.2K

101.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$79.0 PKR 21.9K

74.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$260 PKR 72.1K

126.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.7K

$142 PKR 39.3K

95.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

$905 PKR 250.7K

79.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$591 PKR 163.6K

38.21%

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 Mandi Bahauddin: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $138 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $95.0 – 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 49%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $599 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 9% 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 $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 $593 in Islamabad and $399 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.