Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Multan Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Multan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $414 in Multan, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $613 in Multan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $812 in Multan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 28% more than Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Multan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Multan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.18 PKR 606

28.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$8.58 PKR 2,386

65.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.19 PKR 1,443

4.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.20 PKR 891

25.00%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.43 PKR 398

39.86%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.28 PKR 77.0

53.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.20 PKR 54.9

10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.58 PKR 163

62.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.60 PKR 168

3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.04 PKR 290

16.35%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.08 PKR 300

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$4.93 PKR 1,371

23.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.57 PKR 716

31.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$3.03 PKR 842

44.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.01 PKR 282

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.68 PKR 188

14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.58 PKR 160

60.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.51 PKR 143

17.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.38 PKR 104

7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.43 PKR 119

25.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.57 PKR 157

-40.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.36 PKR 99.4

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.85 PKR 515

4.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.54 PKR 428

-41.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$1.94 PKR 539

2.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.97 PKR 549

8.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.17 PKR 47.97

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,920

$7.26 PKR 2,019

-4.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.03 PKR 286

-16.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.31 PKR 85.4

41.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.38 PKR 384

103.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.95 PKR 266

-4.21%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-4.01%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

19.27%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$103 PKR 28.6K

8.64%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.84 PKR 1,347

12.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$13.62 PKR 3,790

38.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$17.96 PKR 4,997

23.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$12.52 PKR 3,484

-51.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$2.64 PKR 734

59.47%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$36.00 PKR 10.0K

67.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,755 PKR 488.2K

59.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$16.34 PKR 4,547

32.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,685

$27.87 PKR 7,752

-0.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

24.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$29.24 PKR 8,135

36.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$85.3 PKR 23.7K

132.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$58.6 PKR 16.3K

90.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$178 PKR 49.4K

188.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$126 PKR 34.9K

135.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$180 PKR 50.0K

115.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.43

15.89%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Multan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $85.3 in Multan. 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 116% 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 $9.00 in Multan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $80.0 – making Multan 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 Multan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $621 in Multan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $9.00 in Multan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $414 in Multan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Multan – 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 Multan. 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.