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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $439 in Mehar, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $654 in Mehar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $870 in Mehar, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 34% more than Mehar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Mehar are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Mehar 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$2.02 PKR 561

76.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,304

$10.95 PKR 3,034

107.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$6.01 PKR 1,666

-8.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$2.62 PKR 726

35.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$5.02 PKR 1,392

33.67%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.56 PKR 433

53.21%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.33 PKR 90.7

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.20 PKR 55.7

10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.82 PKR 228

20.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.64 PKR 176

23.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.18 PKR 327

8.47%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.25 PKR 345

2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$5.99 PKR 1,662

2.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$2.65 PKR 735

15.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$4.86 PKR 1,346

5.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.19 PKR 331

12.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.56 PKR 156

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.73 PKR 203

39.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.31 PKR 87.0

-6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.35 PKR 96.6

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.34 PKR 95.4

-14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.33 PKR 92.1

15.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.98 PKR 550

-4.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.14 PKR 317

21.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.31 PKR 642

1.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.45 PKR 678

-6.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.28

$0.20 PKR 54.2

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$9.99 PKR 2,770

112.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.13 PKR 313

12.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.61 PKR 170

13.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.73 PKR 480

-4.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.16 PKR 322

13.79%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

134.34%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$28.7K PKR 8.0M

-12.46%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$95.3 PKR 26.4K

7.15%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.51 PKR 1,527

5.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$14.66 PKR 4,063

11.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,065

$14.55 PKR 4,034

99.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.38 PKR 1,213

14.38%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

69.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$944 PKR 261.7K

438.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$13.64 PKR 3,781

72.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$22.66 PKR 6,283

44.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$65.6 PKR 18.2K

27.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$27.72 PKR 7,685

41.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$126 PKR 34.9K

119.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$77.7 PKR 21.6K

85.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$255 PKR 70.6K

126.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$149 PKR 41.2K

79.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$953 PKR 264.2K

71.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 229.9K

$510 PKR 141.3K

62.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.7K

$106 PKR 29.5K

258.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mehar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $126 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 258% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Mehar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $92.0 – 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 34%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $658 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 $23.00 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 $589 in Islamabad and $439 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.