Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mardan Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mardan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $533 per month in Islamabad vs $433 in Mardan, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Islamabad vs $639 in Mardan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,166 per month in Islamabad vs $844 in Mardan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 23% more than Mardan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Mardan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Mardan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$2.13 PKR 593

35.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.01 PKR 3,894

$14.42 PKR 4,010

-2.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,487

$5.18 PKR 1,441

3.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.79 PKR 497

-2.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PKR 1,105

$3.86 PKR 1,074

2.85%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PKR 561

$2.00 PKR 556

1.00%

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

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.31 PKR 86.2

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.22 PKR 60.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.81 PKR 224

25.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.66 PKR 185

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.85 PKR 235

49.41%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.15 PKR 320

6.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,675

$6.23 PKR 1,733

-3.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 PKR 948

$2.38 PKR 661

43.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,260

$3.26 PKR 907

38.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$0.69 PKR 192

49.28%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.55 PKR 154

52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.94 PKR 263

-4.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.33 PKR 92.2

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.24 PKR 66.1

58.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.33 PKR 92.9

69.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.33 PKR 91.8

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.12 PKR 34.05

241.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.46 PKR 405

36.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.92 PKR 255

1.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 560

$1.96 PKR 544

2.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 598

$1.38 PKR 384

55.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.8

$0.16 PKR 45.73

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,933

$7.25 PKR 2,016

-4.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.37 PKR 102

129.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.37 PKR 103

10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 781

$1.75 PKR 487

60.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.95 PKR 265

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

1.10%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-0.27%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$112 PKR 31.2K

-0.18%

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

$5.36 PKR 1,492

$5.62 PKR 1,562

-4.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.59 PKR 5,168

$18.99 PKR 5,280

-2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.15 PKR 6,158

$12.30 PKR 3,420

80.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 PKR 1,638

$5.78 PKR 1,607

1.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.13 PKR 1,147

5.08%

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

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

$17.76 PKR 4,937

234.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

$1,095 PKR 304.3K

154.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.12 PKR 5,873

$21.73 PKR 6,043

-2.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.99 PKR 7,782

$28.38 PKR 7,891

-1.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

$87.3 PKR 24.3K

0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

$17.89 PKR 4,973

120.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 56.0K

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

172.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.0K

$52.5 PKR 14.6K

112.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.2K

$164 PKR 45.5K

214.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$108 PKR 29.9K

177.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

$774 PKR 215.2K

102.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 PKR 179.6K

$424 PKR 118.0K

52.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

$268 PKR 74.4K

41.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mardan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Islamabad versus $73.9 in Mardan. 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 41% 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 $14.00 in Mardan. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Islamabad vs $79.0 in Mardan – so Mardan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mardan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 23%, 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 $799 per month in Islamabad and $650 in Mardan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $14.00 in Mardan. 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 $533 in Islamabad and $433 in Mardan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mardan – 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 Mardan. 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.