Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Muzaffarabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Muzaffarabad

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 40% more expensive than Muzaffarabad without rent, and 87.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 51.5% more expensive than Muzaffarabad without rent, and 67.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 PKR 806
$1.44 PKR 408
97.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.4 PKR 4,068
$14.19 PKR 4,006
1.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 PKR 1,491
$2.17 PKR 614
143.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 PKR 496
$1.39 PKR 394
25.90%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 PKR 1,083
$3.4 PKR 959
12.65%
Cappuccino
$2.01 PKR 567
$1.04 PKR 294
93.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 111
$0.32 PKR 89.8
21.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 68.1
$0.21 PKR 59.1
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 PKR 282
$0.78 PKR 222
28.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 PKR 188
$0.56 PKR 159
19.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 344
$1.25 PKR 354
-2.40%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 358
$1.13 PKR 319
12.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.15 PKR 1,736
$6.02 PKR 1,699
2.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 PKR 1,004
$2.69 PKR 761
31.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.31 PKR 1,216
$2.98 PKR 842
44.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 292
$1.03 PKR 290
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.68 PKR 191
25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.9 PKR 255
$0.55 PKR 155
63.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 167
$0.44 PKR 123
34.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.33 PKR 94.1
27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 148
$0.46 PKR 130
13.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKR 87.3
$0.24 PKR 67.4
29.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 PKR 114
$0.34 PKR 95.4
17.65%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.78 PKR 503
$1.38 PKR 391
28.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PKR 247
$0.99 PKR 280
-12.12%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 PKR 554
$2.27 PKR 642
-13.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 613
$1.43 PKR 405
51.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53
$0.33 PKR 94.2
-42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.95 PKR 1,964
$7.27 PKR 2,052
-4.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.9 PKR 255
-5.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 123
$0.36 PKR 101
22.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.9 PKR 820
$2.55 PKR 721
13.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 277
$0.89 PKR 250
10.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
$18K PKR 5.1M
19.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K PKR 7.3M
$22.8K PKR 6.4M
13.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.3K
$53.7 PKR 15.2K
106.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.35 PKR 1,512
$4.03 PKR 1,139
32.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.38 PKR 5,191
$11.71 PKR 3,307
56.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.44 PKR 6,339
$7.16 PKR 2,022
213.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 PKR 1,700
$5.39 PKR 1,523
11.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.3 PKR 1,214
$3.52 PKR 994
22.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
$24.66 PKR 6,965
139.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,713 PKR 766.3K
$967 PKR 273.2K
180.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.17 PKR 5,980
$5.27 PKR 1,489
301.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.14 PKR 7,947
$9.04 PKR 2,555
211.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 PKR 24.8K
$88.4 PKR 25K
-0.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.86 PKR 11.3K
$10.78 PKR 3,046
269.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 PKR 57K
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
240.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.5K
$26.73 PKR 7,551
317.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PKR 141.1K
$141 PKR 39.9K
253.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 PKR 84.3K
$108 PKR 30.6K
175.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,315 PKR 371.4K
$523 PKR 147.8K
151.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$781 PKR 220.5K
$507 PKR 143.1K
54.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$289 PKR 81.6K
$167 PKR 47.3K
72.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
19
6.32%

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

Last update for Islamabad: October 29, 2025

Last update for Muzaffarabad: October 28, 2025

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