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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $525 in Multan, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $750 in Multan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $976 in Multan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 13% more than Multan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Multan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Multan 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$2.51 PKR 695

41.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$10.95 PKR 3,033

112.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.51 PKR 1,528

-1.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$2.63 PKR 729

41.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$5.24 PKR 1,452

28.44%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.77 PKR 490

41.81%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.28 PKR 77.3

17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.20 PKR 54.7

5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.67 PKR 184

40.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.54 PKR 150

38.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.02 PKR 283

22.55%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.15 PKR 318

5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$7.13 PKR 1,976

-15.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.39 PKR 661

33.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$4.25 PKR 1,178

28.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.92 PKR 254

35.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.52 PKR 145

55.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.71 PKR 195

45.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.59 PKR 162

-11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.37 PKR 102

-29.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.43 PKR 120

-23.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.47 PKR 129

-36.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.37 PKR 104

13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.81 PKR 501

11.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$2.81 PKR 777

-7.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.12 PKR 589

9.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.18 PKR 48.56

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$7.32 PKR 2,026

198.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.48 PKR 409

-12.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.35 PKR 96.9

111.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$0.88 PKR 244

82.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.10 PKR 304

13.64%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

112.77%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-7.51%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$147 PKR 40.7K

-29.00%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$4.83 PKR 1,338

21.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$18.85 PKR 5,223

-14.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$23.83 PKR 6,602

20.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

$3.56 PKR 986

137.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.44 PKR 1,229

-1.58%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$42.39 PKR 11.7K

76.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,029 PKR 285.1K

393.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$18.02 PKR 4,991

39.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$18.90 PKR 5,236

85.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$93.5 PKR 25.9K

4.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$25.90 PKR 7,174

54.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$145 PKR 40.2K

91.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$90.5 PKR 25.1K

52.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$215 PKR 59.6K

174.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$149 PKR 41.3K

85.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$185 PKR 51.2K

104.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

0.62%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Multan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $145 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 105% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Multan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $89.0 – 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 13%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $787 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 16% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad and $11.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $525 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.