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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $313 in Mirpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $473 in Mirpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $633 in Mirpur, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 69% more than Mirpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Mirpur are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Mirpur 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.73 PKR 480

61.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$7.48 PKR 2,082

90.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.64 PKR 1,013

49.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.38 PKR 384

24.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$1.75 PKR 486

128.57%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.53 PKR 424

30.72%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.29 PKR 81.7

48.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.16 PKR 43.84

37.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.70 PKR 195

34.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.51 PKR 141

21.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.30 PKR 361

-6.92%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$0.83 PKR 232

44.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$3.57 PKR 993

70.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.58 PKR 717

31.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$3.27 PKR 910

33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.99 PKR 274

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.59 PKR 163

32.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.62 PKR 173

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.52 PKR 144

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.27 PKR 74.2

51.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.29 PKR 81.7

86.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.27 PKR 74.9

25.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.33 PKR 93.1

12.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$0.95 PKR 265

103.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.85 PKR 237

5.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.06 PKR 573

-3.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.83 PKR 509

16.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.18 PKR 49.70

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.10 PKR 1,974

-2.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.03 PKR 286

-16.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.50 PKR 139

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.76 PKR 488

59.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.92 PKR 256

-1.09%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$8,947 PKR 2.5M

140.41%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$14.1K PKR 3.9M

85.50%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$57.4 PKR 16.0K

94.60%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$1.79 PKR 498

203.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$12.68 PKR 3,527

48.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$6.87 PKR 1,912

223.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$3.59 PKR 1,000

68.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.62 PKR 1,008

16.30%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$28.71 PKR 7,987

110.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,109 PKR 308.6K

152.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$16.34 PKR 4,545

32.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$17.71 PKR 4,927

56.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$35.90 PKR 9,988

145.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$26.09 PKR 7,259

52.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$71.0 PKR 19.7K

178.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

113.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$106 PKR 29.4K

385.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$99.9 PKR 27.8K

196.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$1,131 PKR 314.6K

37.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$556 PKR 154.7K

18.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$141 PKR 39.3K

174.06%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mirpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $71.0 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 174% 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: $98.0 vs $74.0 – 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 69%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $470 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 33% 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 $529 in Islamabad and $313 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.