😐A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $443 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $661 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $878 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
😐Islamabad costs about 19% more than Mirpur Khas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Islamabad and Mirpur Khas are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad61% lower, Mirpur Khas67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80PKR 779
$2.08PKR 578
34.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,956
$12.16PKR 3,383
16.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44PKR 1,513
$4.14PKR 1,151
31.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 478
$1.91PKR 530
-9.95%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00PKR 1,112
$5.18PKR 1,442
-22.78%
Cappuccino
$2.00PKR 558
$1.87PKR 522
6.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.36PKR 101
19.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.1
$0.21PKR 58.3
4.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94PKR 260
$0.58PKR 162
62.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 173
$0.54PKR 150
14.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 338
$1.14PKR 316
6.14%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 335
$1.10PKR 307
9.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07PKR 1,690
$6.63PKR 1,846
-8.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 942
$3.15PKR 877
7.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.38PKR 1,219
$5.12PKR 1,425
-14.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$1.09PKR 302
-5.50%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78PKR 216
$0.55PKR 154
41.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 260
$0.94PKR 262
-1.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.52PKR 146
15.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 115
$0.35PKR 98.5
17.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54PKR 149
$0.47PKR 131
14.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.3
$0.36PKR 99.4
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.44PKR 121
-15.91%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.93PKR 538
$1.27PKR 353
51.97%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90PKR 251
$1.27PKR 353
-29.13%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99PKR 553
$2.05PKR 571
-2.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 596
$2.09PKR 580
2.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.2
$0.18PKR 49.08
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.90PKR 1,921
$7.13PKR 1,985
-3.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.69PKR 193
24.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.65PKR 181
-32.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.81PKR 782
$1.80PKR 502
56.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 254
$0.87PKR 242
4.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
$16.4KPKR 4.6M
30.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KPKR 7.3M
$24.6KPKR 6.9M
6.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.1K
$135PKR 37.6K
-17.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.44PKR 1,513
$5.02PKR 1,397
8.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81PKR 5,235
$13.51PKR 3,759
39.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.19PKR 6,176
$12.43PKR 3,460
78.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04PKR 1,680
$5.99PKR 1,666
0.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21PKR 1,172
$4.29PKR 1,193
-1.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.3PKR 16.8K
$58.4PKR 16.3K
3.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,805PKR 780.4K
$1,392PKR 387.5K
101.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.57PKR 6,001
$17.87PKR 4,973
20.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.63PKR 7,688
$25.77PKR 7,172
7.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1PKR 24.5K
$65.6PKR 18.2K
34.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$35.66PKR 9,924
11.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198PKR 55.1K
$75.1PKR 20.9K
163.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$112PKR 31.1K
$51.5PKR 14.3K
117.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513PKR 142.7K
$167PKR 46.5K
207.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296PKR 82.4K
$107PKR 29.7K
177.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,551PKR 431.6K
$884PKR 246.1K
75.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$657PKR 183.0K
$477PKR 132.6K
37.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$387PKR 107.8K
-
-
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mirpur Khas: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $75.1 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: $98.0 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 19%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $664 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 Mirpur Khas?
Groceries cost about 3% 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 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 $529 in Islamabad and $443 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.