šA single person spends $533 per month in Islamabad vs $445 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
šA couple spends around $843 per month in Islamabad vs $657 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
šA family of three spends $1,152 per month in Islamabad vs $869 in Mirpur Khas, rent included.
šIslamabad costs about 20% more than Mirpur Khas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
šBoth Islamabad and Mirpur Khas are more affordable than the global median ā Islamabad60% lower, Mirpur Khas67% lower.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76PKRĀ 771
$2.06PKRĀ 576
33.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.25PKRĀ 3,975
$12.34PKRĀ 3,442
15.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.32PKRĀ 1,485
$4.05PKRĀ 1,129
31.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73PKRĀ 482
$1.93PKRĀ 539
-10.36%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98PKRĀ 1,109
$5.20PKRĀ 1,450
-23.46%
Cappuccino
$2.08PKRĀ 581
$1.82PKRĀ 508
14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKRĀ 118
$0.36PKRĀ 101
16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKRĀ 67.2
$0.21PKRĀ 58.3
14.29%
š Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97PKRĀ 269
$0.58PKRĀ 163
67.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66PKRĀ 185
$0.58PKRĀ 161
13.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26PKRĀ 352
$1.17PKRĀ 327
7.69%
Eggs
$1.27PKRĀ 355
$1.11PKRĀ 309
14.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.02PKRĀ 1,680
$6.58PKRĀ 1,837
-8.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKRĀ 958
$3.13PKRĀ 874
9.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.40PKRĀ 1,227
$4.89PKRĀ 1,365
-10.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.00PKRĀ 279
$1.08PKRĀ 301
-7.41%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85PKRĀ 236
$0.58PKRĀ 163
46.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90PKRĀ 251
$0.88PKRĀ 245
2.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKRĀ 158
$0.58PKRĀ 161
-1.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKRĀ 106
$0.35PKRĀ 98.8
8.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57PKRĀ 160
$0.47PKRĀ 131
21.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKRĀ 93.0
$0.39PKRĀ 108
-15.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKRĀ 104
$0.40PKRĀ 112
-7.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.91PKRĀ 534
$1.57PKRĀ 439
21.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91PKRĀ 255
$1.33PKRĀ 370
-31.58%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03PKRĀ 566
$2.05PKRĀ 571
-0.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06PKRĀ 576
$2.15PKRĀ 599
-4.19%
š Getting Around
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKRĀ 50.4
$0.19PKRĀ 52.2
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.90PKRĀ 1,924
$6.95PKRĀ 1,939
-0.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKRĀ 253
$0.69PKRĀ 192
31.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40PKRĀ 112
$0.63PKRĀ 174
-36.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.87PKRĀ 801
$1.73PKRĀ 482
65.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92PKRĀ 258
$0.94PKRĀ 263
-2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KPKRĀ 5.8M
$16.8KPKRĀ 4.7M
24.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KPKRĀ 7.3M
$24.7KPKRĀ 6.9M
5.91%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111PKRĀ 31.1K
$135PKRĀ 37.5K
-17.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57PKRĀ 1,555
$5.02PKRĀ 1,399
10.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70PKRĀ 5,217
$13.53PKRĀ 3,775
38.21%
š Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.29PKRĀ 6,219
$12.60PKRĀ 3,516
76.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86PKRĀ 1,634
$5.91PKRĀ 1,650
-0.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30PKRĀ 1,200
$4.27PKRĀ 1,190
0.70%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.6PKRĀ 16.9K
$57.0PKRĀ 15.9K
6.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,738PKRĀ 763.9K
$1,395PKRĀ 389.2K
96.27%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.38PKRĀ 5,964
$17.69PKRĀ 4,935
20.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.45PKRĀ 7,935
$25.82PKRĀ 7,203
10.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PKRĀ 25.0K
$64.8PKRĀ 18.1K
38.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.17PKRĀ 11.2K
$36.26PKRĀ 10.1K
10.78%
š Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$197PKRĀ 55.0K
$74.4PKRĀ 20.8K
165.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111PKRĀ 31.1K
$51.9PKRĀ 14.5K
114.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505PKRĀ 140.8K
$165PKRĀ 46.1K
205.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292PKRĀ 81.6K
$107PKRĀ 29.9K
172.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,535PKRĀ 428.1K
$700PKRĀ 195.2K
119.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$752PKRĀ 209.7K
$578PKRĀ 161.2K
30.12%
šµ Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$304PKRĀ 84.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.2
17.8
13.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026
Last update for Mirpur Khas: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $74 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.
šA mid-range dinner for two costs $14 in Islamabad versus $12 in Mirpur Khas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99 vs $95 ā 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 ā Islamabad is pricier by about 20%, 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 $800 per month in Islamabad and $668 in Mirpur Khas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled ā 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 5% 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?
Is $1,000 enough for either Islamabad or Mirpur Khas?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably ā all-in costs are $533 in Islamabad and $445 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 ā 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 ā 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.