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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $287 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $489 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $690 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 84% more than Muzaffarabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Muzaffarabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Muzaffarabad 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.37 PKR 382

104.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$14.42 PKR 4,011

-1.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$2.15 PKR 598

153.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.37 PKR 382

25.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.51 PKR 977

13.96%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.03 PKR 286

94.17%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.32 PKR 88.8

34.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.21 PKR 58.4

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.80 PKR 221

17.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.56 PKR 157

10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.25 PKR 349

-3.20%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.16 PKR 323

3.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,690

$5.95 PKR 1,654

2.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.66 PKR 740

27.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$2.94 PKR 817

48.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.00 PKR 279

3.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.63 PKR 176

23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.54 PKR 151

72.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.47 PKR 131

27.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.36 PKR 101

13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.43 PKR 120

25.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.26 PKR 72.6

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.36 PKR 101

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 538

$1.38 PKR 384

39.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.02 PKR 285

-11.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.32 PKR 645

-14.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.43 PKR 398

49.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.37 PKR 102

-48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.00 PKR 1,947

-1.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.85 PKR 236

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.35 PKR 98.7

25.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$2.69 PKR 748

4.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.95 PKR 265

-4.21%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

23.50%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

15.14%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$53.9 PKR 15.0K

107.39%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.00 PKR 1,114

36.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$11.28 PKR 3,138

66.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$7.11 PKR 1,978

212.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$5.37 PKR 1,493

12.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.47 PKR 965

21.33%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$24.39 PKR 6,786

147.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$934 PKR 259.9K

200.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$5.27 PKR 1,466

309.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$9.03 PKR 2,513

205.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$87.0 PKR 24.2K

1.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$10.45 PKR 2,907

281.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$59.0 PKR 16.4K

235.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$27.15 PKR 7,553

311.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$143 PKR 39.7K

259.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$110 PKR 30.7K

168.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$1,020 PKR 283.7K

52.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$441 PKR 122.6K

49.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$291 PKR 80.9K

33.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

6.32%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Muzaffarabad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $59.0 in Muzaffarabad. 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 33% 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 $14.00 in Muzaffarabad. Groceries tell a different story – $98.0 in Islamabad vs $84.0 in Muzaffarabad – so Muzaffarabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Muzaffarabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $431 in Muzaffarabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $14.00 in Muzaffarabad. 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 $287 in Muzaffarabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Muzaffarabad – 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 Muzaffarabad. 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.