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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $500 in Mardan, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $767 in Mardan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $1,033 in Mardan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 19% more than Mardan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Mardan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Mardan 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$3.59 PKR 994

-0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$23.00 PKR 6,371

0.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.53 PKR 1,531

-1.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.59 PKR 994

3.34%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$6.92 PKR 1,918

-2.75%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$2.62 PKR 725

-4.20%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.36 PKR 98.5

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.91 PKR 252

3.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.79 PKR 220

-5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.29 PKR 357

-3.10%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.21 PKR 336

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$2.97 PKR 823

104.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$3.12 PKR 864

2.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$3.74 PKR 1,035

45.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.94 PKR 260

32.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.74 PKR 205

9.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.06 PKR 295

-2.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.37 PKR 103

40.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.28 PKR 78.3

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.28 PKR 76.4

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.37 PKR 103

13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.77 PKR 489

13.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.18 PKR 326

5.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$2.69 PKR 746

-3.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$1.78 PKR 493

30.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.16 PKR 43.23

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$10.72 PKR 2,970

103.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.30 PKR 359

-0.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.66 PKR 460

-3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.02 PKR 283

22.55%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

152.72%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

2.44%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

0.26%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.69 PKR 1,575

3.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$15.72 PKR 4,353

2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$14.73 PKR 4,079

94.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.34 PKR 1,203

0.69%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

-0.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,028 PKR 284.9K

394.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$24.74 PKR 6,852

1.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$34.30 PKR 9,501

2.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$98.1 PKR 27.2K

-0.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$40.71 PKR 11.3K

-1.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$128 PKR 35.4K

117.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

76.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$250 PKR 69.4K

135.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$151 PKR 41.7K

83.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$994 PKR 275.4K

63.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$591 PKR 163.8K

38.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mardan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $128 in Mardan. 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 $23.00 in Mardan. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Islamabad vs $85.0 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 19%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $750 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 21% 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 $23.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $500 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.