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 $537 per month in Islamabad vs $333 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A couple spends around $845 per month in Islamabad vs $511 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,154 per month in Islamabad vs $690 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 61% more than Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Mandi Bahauddin are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Mandi Bahauddin 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PKR 769

$1.76 PKR 489

56.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.32 PKR 3,980

$8.78 PKR 2,441

63.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,454

$3.50 PKR 974

49.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 488

$2.90 PKR 807

-39.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PKR 1,096

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-19.59%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.09 PKR 303

90.83%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.31 PKR 85.4

29.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.24 PKR 66.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 277

$0.69 PKR 193

44.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.40 PKR 112

57.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.26 PKR 349

Eggs

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.15 PKR 320

9.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,747

$6.20 PKR 1,725

1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.70 PKR 750

25.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.14 PKR 872

38.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.54 PKR 151

55.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.66 PKR 184

36.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.52 PKR 145

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.38 PKR 104

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.51 PKR 141

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.63 PKR 176

-50.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.42 PKR 117

-2.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.00 PKR 278

100.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.69 PKR 191

34.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 545

$1.95 PKR 542

0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.90 PKR 527

8.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.81

$0.19 PKR 51.6

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,960

$6.87 PKR 1,909

2.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.08 PKR 302

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.53 PKR 146

-24.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 PKR 793

$1.75 PKR 487

62.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.94 PKR 261

4.26%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-6.34%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

21.15%

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

$112 PKR 31.2K

$59.0 PKR 16.4K

90.19%

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

$5.37 PKR 1,492

$3.71 PKR 1,031

44.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.53 PKR 5,152

$12.99 PKR 3,610

42.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.84 PKR 6,351

$12.36 PKR 3,436

84.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 PKR 1,670

$5.95 PKR 1,653

1.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 PKR 1,158

$3.53 PKR 981

18.13%

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

$59.2 PKR 16.5K

$28.11 PKR 7,816

110.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,812 PKR 781.8K

$1,133 PKR 315.1K

148.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.16 PKR 5,883

$15.92 PKR 4,427

32.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 PKR 7,827

$22.49 PKR 6,253

25.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

49.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 PKR 11.0K

$25.95 PKR 7,216

52.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

161.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

116.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.1K

$167 PKR 46.4K

208.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$108 PKR 29.9K

176.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.5K

$760 PKR 211.3K

99.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$637 PKR 177.2K

$412 PKR 114.4K

54.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$382 PKR 106.2K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $75.2 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: $100 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 61%, 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 $805 per month in Islamabad and $499 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 17% 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 $537 in Islamabad and $333 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.