😐A single person spends $535 per month in Islamabad vs $457 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $833 per month in Islamabad vs $659 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,131 per month in Islamabad vs $861 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
😐Islamabad costs about 17% more than Mirpur Khas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Islamabad and Mirpur Khas are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad60% lower, Mirpur Khas66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81PKR 781
$2.07PKR 575
35.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.13PKR 3,923
$12.41PKR 3,446
13.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44PKR 1,510
$4.02PKR 1,116
35.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80PKR 498
$1.93PKR 536
-6.74%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94PKR 1,094
$5.26PKR 1,460
-25.10%
Cappuccino
$2.04PKR 567
$1.82PKR 504
12.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.33PKR 92.8
18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 66.7
$0.21PKR 58.2
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 263
$0.63PKR 174
50.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66PKR 182
$0.54PKR 150
22.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27PKR 354
$1.17PKR 326
8.55%
Eggs
$1.26PKR 350
$1.15PKR 320
9.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.14PKR 1,704
$6.44PKR 1,789
-4.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.55PKR 984
$3.16PKR 879
12.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.52PKR 1,254
$5.15PKR 1,429
-12.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05PKR 291
$1.05PKR 290
-
Banana(1kg)
$0.80PKR 222
$0.55PKR 152
45.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91PKR 252
$0.92PKR 256
-1.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59PKR 165
$0.57PKR 158
3.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42PKR 116
$0.38PKR 106
10.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53PKR 149
$0.48PKR 132
10.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31PKR 85.7
$0.36PKR 99.1
-13.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 112
$0.44PKR 121
-9.09%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.95PKR 541
$1.27PKR 353
53.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90PKR 251
$1.28PKR 355
-29.69%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03PKR 565
$2.05PKR 570
-0.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16PKR 601
$2.07PKR 576
4.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.97
$0.19PKR 52.7
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.20PKR 1,998
$7.04PKR 1,955
2.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92PKR 255
$0.70PKR 193
31.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.65PKR 182
-33.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.78PKR 772
$1.75PKR 485
58.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99PKR 274
$0.94PKR 262
5.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KPKR 5.9M
$16.7KPKR 4.6M
26.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KPKR 7.2M
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
3.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114PKR 31.6K
$133PKR 37.0K
-14.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.43PKR 1,508
$5.11PKR 1,420
6.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79PKR 5,216
$13.52PKR 3,755
38.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.78PKR 6,325
$12.45PKR 3,457
82.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05PKR 1,680
$5.96PKR 1,655
1.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.35PKR 1,208
$4.15PKR 1,153
4.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$59.5PKR 16.5K
$57.9PKR 16.1K
2.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,754PKR 764.7K
$1,357PKR 376.8K
102.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.76PKR 6,041
$17.56PKR 4,875
23.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.27PKR 7,850
$24.90PKR 6,913
13.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7PKR 24.1K
$64.2PKR 17.8K
35.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.56PKR 11.3K
$36.06PKR 10.0K
12.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201PKR 55.7K
$76.4PKR 21.2K
162.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$112PKR 31.0K
$52.4PKR 14.6K
113.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508PKR 141.0K
$165PKR 45.7K
208.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296PKR 82.1K
$107PKR 29.8K
175.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,557PKR 432.3K
$915PKR 254.2K
70.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$656PKR 182.0K
$422PKR 117.2K
55.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$378PKR 105.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.2
17.8
13.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Islamabad: July 20, 2026
Last update for Mirpur Khas: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Islamabad versus $76.4 in Mirpur Khas. 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 $12.00 in Mirpur Khas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $95.0 – making Mirpur Khas 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 Mirpur Khas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mirpur Khas cheaper than Islamabad?
Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $802 per month in Islamabad and $685 in Mirpur Khas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mirpur Khas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Islamabad and in Mirpur Khas?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Islamabad or in Mirpur Khas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $12.00 in Mirpur Khas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Islamabad or Mirpur Khas?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $535 in Islamabad and $457 in Mirpur Khas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Islamabad or Mirpur Khas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mirpur Khas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Islamabad or Mirpur Khas?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mirpur Khas. 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.