Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mehar Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mehar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $390 in Mehar, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $584 in Mehar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $778 in Mehar, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 36% more than Mehar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Mehar are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Mehar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.75 PKR 488

60.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,956

$10.59 PKR 2,946

34.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,513

$3.99 PKR 1,110

36.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.74 PKR 484

-1.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.44 PKR 957

16.28%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 558

$1.44 PKR 402

38.89%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.35 PKR 96.3

22.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.23 PKR 64.1

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.78 PKR 216

20.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.56 PKR 156

10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.20 PKR 334

0.83%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.17 PKR 326

2.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,690

$6.12 PKR 1,703

-0.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.68 PKR 747

26.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,219

$3.77 PKR 1,050

16.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.04 PKR 289

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.65 PKR 180

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.61 PKR 170

52.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.48 PKR 133

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.38 PKR 105

7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.51 PKR 141

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.33 PKR 93.1

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.34 PKR 93.7

8.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 538

$1.49 PKR 416

29.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.93 PKR 259

-3.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.03 PKR 565

-1.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.92 PKR 535

11.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.20 PKR 55.2

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.24 PKR 2,013

-4.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.91 PKR 255

-5.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.82 PKR 507

54.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.91 PKR 253

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-0.03%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

12.58%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$103 PKR 28.6K

8.55%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,513

$4.08 PKR 1,136

33.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,235

$13.55 PKR 3,770

38.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,176

$12.53 PKR 3,487

77.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,680

$5.98 PKR 1,665

1.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,172

$3.52 PKR 980

19.60%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$30.10 PKR 8,377

100.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.4K

$1,126 PKR 313.4K

149.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 6,001

$14.93 PKR 4,155

44.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,688

$21.83 PKR 6,076

26.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

25.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$29.41 PKR 8,183

35.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

168.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

119.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.7K

$167 PKR 46.6K

206.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.4K

$106 PKR 29.5K

179.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.6K

$1,059 PKR 294.8K

46.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 183.0K

$463 PKR 128.9K

41.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$106 PKR 29.5K

265.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

6.32%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mehar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $73.9 in Mehar. 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 266% 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 $11.00 in Mehar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $87.0 – making Mehar 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 Mehar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 36%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $586 in Mehar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $11.00 in Mehar. 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 $529 in Islamabad and $390 in Mehar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mehar – 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 Mehar. 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.