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

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 75.7% more expensive than Muzaffarabad without rent, and 88.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 54.3% more expensive than Muzaffarabad without rent, and 67.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 PKR 771
$1.43 PKR 400
93.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.25 PKR 3,974
$14.18 PKR 3,955
0.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,485
$2.15 PKR 600
147.44%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 PKR 482
$1.43 PKR 399
20.98%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PKR 1,109
$3.37 PKR 940
18.10%
Cappuccino
$2.08 PKR 581
$1.09 PKR 303
90.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.31 PKR 87.8
35.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 67.2
$0.21 PKR 58.3
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 269
$0.85 PKR 236
14.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 PKR 185
$0.52 PKR 146
26.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 352
$1.23 PKR 343
2.44%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 355
$1.12 PKR 311
13.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 PKR 1,680
$6.09 PKR 1,698
-1.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 PKR 958
$2.57 PKR 718
33.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 PKR 1,227
$3.03 PKR 845
45.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 279
$0.96 PKR 268
4.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.67 PKR 188
26.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.52 PKR 145
73.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.46 PKR 130
23.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.34 PKR 94.4
11.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.47 PKR 130
21.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 93.0
$0.26 PKR 72.7
26.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.34 PKR 94.0
8.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.91 PKR 534
$1.47 PKR 410
29.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 PKR 255
$0.99 PKR 277
-8.08%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 PKR 566
$2.38 PKR 663
-14.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 PKR 575
$1.43 PKR 399
44.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.4
$0.36 PKR 101
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,923
$7.22 PKR 2,013
-4.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.92 PKR 256
-1.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.35 PKR 98.8
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 PKR 801
$2.55 PKR 712
12.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 258
$0.91 PKR 253
1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
$17.4K PKR 4.9M
19.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
$22.8K PKR 6.4M
14.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$52.9 PKR 14.8K
110.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57 PKR 1,555
$4.04 PKR 1,127
37.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 PKR 5,216
$11.52 PKR 3,212
62.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.29 PKR 6,217
$6.91 PKR 1,928
222.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 PKR 1,634
$5.17 PKR 1,442
13.35%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 PKR 1,200
$3.52 PKR 982
22.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
$24.72 PKR 6,893
145.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,738 PKR 763.7K
$941 PKR 262.3K
191.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.38 PKR 5,962
$5.35 PKR 1,491
299.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.45 PKR 7,934
$9.03 PKR 2,519
215.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 PKR 24.9K
$87.6 PKR 24.4K
2.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
$10.63 PKR 2,965
277.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 PKR 55.0K
$60.0 PKR 16.7K
228.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$27.33 PKR 7,621
307.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 PKR 140.7K
$139 PKR 38.7K
263.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 PKR 81.6K
$111 PKR 30.9K
164.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,535 PKR 428.0K
$893 PKR 248.9K
71.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$752 PKR 209.7K
$644 PKR 179.6K
16.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Muzaffarabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 PKR 84.7K
$173 PKR 48.4K
74.97%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Muzaffarabad: April 13, 2026

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

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