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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $286 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $492 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $698 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 87% more than Muzaffarabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Muzaffarabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Muzaffarabad 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.43 PKR 398

99.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$14.04 PKR 3,898

1.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$2.11 PKR 585

157.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.39 PKR 385

23.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$3.49 PKR 970

9.46%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.07 PKR 298

84.11%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.32 PKR 88.8

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.21 PKR 58.1

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.84 PKR 233

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.52 PKR 145

26.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.26 PKR 349

1.59%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.16 PKR 323

3.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$6.10 PKR 1,695

-0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.66 PKR 739

26.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$2.92 PKR 811

48.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.93 PKR 259

11.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.65 PKR 180

29.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.52 PKR 143

75.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.46 PKR 128

21.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.34 PKR 94.1

20.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.44 PKR 122

29.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.24 PKR 66.5

29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.36 PKR 101

13.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.40 PKR 390

42.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.99 PKR 276

-6.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$2.36 PKR 655

-13.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.38 PKR 382

55.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.37 PKR 102

-54.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$7.14 PKR 1,983

1.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.84 PKR 233

1.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.33 PKR 90.9

30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$2.59 PKR 718

7.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.95 PKR 265

3.16%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

16.65%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

15.06%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

112.25%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$4.02 PKR 1,117

34.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$11.70 PKR 3,249

59.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$7.19 PKR 1,997

207.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,699

$5.34 PKR 1,482

14.61%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$3.64 PKR 1,010

13.74%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$25.13 PKR 6,978

139.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

$934 PKR 259.3K

194.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$5.29 PKR 1,469

298.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$8.78 PKR 2,439

214.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$10.62 PKR 2,950

285.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$59.2 PKR 16.4K

236.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$27.33 PKR 7,588

302.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$143 PKR 39.7K

252.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$111 PKR 30.9K

168.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$821 PKR 228.1K

84.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$516 PKR 143.4K

25.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$290 PKR 80.6K

32.70%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Muzaffarabad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $59.2 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 – $100 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 87%, 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 $801 per month in Islamabad and $428 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 19% 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 $534 in Islamabad and $286 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.