Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mirpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mirpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $320 in Mirpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $475 in Mirpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $630 in Mirpur, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 67% more than Mirpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Mirpur are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Mirpur 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.73 PKR 481

64.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$7.39 PKR 2,053

92.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$3.55 PKR 986

53.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.40 PKR 389

22.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$1.74 PKR 483

119.54%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.47 PKR 408

34.01%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.27 PKR 74.3

48.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.19 PKR 51.9

26.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.76 PKR 212

26.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.52 PKR 144

26.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.27 PKR 352

0.79%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$0.88 PKR 245

36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$3.59 PKR 996

69.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.58 PKR 718

30.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.28 PKR 911

32.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.99 PKR 274

5.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.56 PKR 155

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.66 PKR 184

37.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.51 PKR 142

9.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.29 PKR 81.5

41.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.29 PKR 80.6

96.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.29 PKR 81.1

6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.37 PKR 102

10.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.03 PKR 287

94.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.92 PKR 255

1.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$1.98 PKR 549

3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.88 PKR 522

13.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.16 PKR 43.68

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$7.26 PKR 2,015

-0.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.05 PKR 291

-19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.50 PKR 138

-14.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$1.81 PKR 504

54.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.99 PKR 276

-1.01%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$8,902 PKR 2.5M

134.79%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$13.9K PKR 3.9M

86.82%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

97.16%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$1.74 PKR 484

210.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$12.77 PKR 3,546

46.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$7.26 PKR 2,017

204.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$3.59 PKR 998

70.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$3.62 PKR 1,004

14.36%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$27.77 PKR 7,710

116.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$1,121 PKR 311.3K

145.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$16.23 PKR 4,508

29.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$17.42 PKR 4,837

58.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$35.44 PKR 9,842

147.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$26.09 PKR 7,245

56.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$70.4 PKR 19.6K

182.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

103.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$105 PKR 29.0K

382.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$101 PKR 27.9K

196.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$850 PKR 235.9K

78.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$424 PKR 117.7K

52.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$141 PKR 39.3K

172.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

12.22%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mirpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $70.4 in Mirpur. 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 172% 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 $7.00 in Mirpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $75.0 – making Mirpur 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 67%, 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 $801 per month in Islamabad and $479 in Mirpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $7.00 in Mirpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $534 in Islamabad and $320 in Mirpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mirpur – 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 Mirpur. 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.