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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $406 in Multan, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $615 in Multan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $824 in Multan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 32% more than Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Multan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Multan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$2.07 PKR 574

37.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$8.62 PKR 2,393

65.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$5.16 PKR 1,432

5.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.75 PKR 486

-1.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$3.22 PKR 895

18.63%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.43 PKR 397

37.76%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.30 PKR 84.3

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.20 PKR 55.6

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.59 PKR 163

62.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.56 PKR 156

17.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.05 PKR 291

21.90%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.03 PKR 286

16.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$4.76 PKR 1,322

27.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.60 PKR 721

29.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.08 PKR 857

41.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.99 PKR 274

5.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.68 PKR 188

23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.57 PKR 160

59.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.49 PKR 136

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.38 PKR 105

7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.40 PKR 110

42.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.60 PKR 168

-48.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.36 PKR 98.7

13.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.81 PKR 503

10.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.57 PKR 435

-40.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$1.83 PKR 509

11.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.92 PKR 534

11.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.19 PKR 52.1

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$7.17 PKR 1,991

0.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.04 PKR 288

-18.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.31 PKR 85.2

38.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$1.42 PKR 395

96.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.99 PKR 275

-1.01%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-6.02%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

15.16%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$105 PKR 29.0K

8.77%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$4.92 PKR 1,365

9.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$13.89 PKR 3,857

34.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$18.04 PKR 5,008

22.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,699

$12.58 PKR 3,494

-51.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$2.63 PKR 731

57.41%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

65.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

$1,754 PKR 487.2K

56.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$16.64 PKR 4,622

26.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$27.32 PKR 7,586

1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$70.2 PKR 19.5K

25.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$29.67 PKR 8,239

37.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

129.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

91.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$175 PKR 48.5K

188.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$125 PKR 34.8K

138.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$183 PKR 50.8K

110.51%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Multan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $86.9 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 111% 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: $100 vs $79.0 – 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 32%, 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 $801 per month in Islamabad and $608 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 27% 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 $534 in Islamabad and $406 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.