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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $406 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $621 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $836 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 45% more than Muzaffarabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Muzaffarabad are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Muzaffarabad 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$1.41 PKR 392

153.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$16.39 PKR 4,547

38.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$2.18 PKR 604

150.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$1.48 PKR 411

139.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$3.42 PKR 947

96.20%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.05 PKR 291

127.62%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.44 PKR 121

-27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.25 PKR 69.6

-12.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.84 PKR 234

17.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.59 PKR 163

33.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.02 PKR 282

25.49%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.88 PKR 243

45.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$6.34 PKR 1,760

-3.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$2.55 PKR 708

20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$3.17 PKR 879

61.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.11 PKR 308

20.72%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.81 PKR 226

3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.37 PKR 103

175.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.35 PKR 95.9

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.35 PKR 96.9

-17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.30 PKR 83.6

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.33 PKR 91.7

-12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.34 PKR 95.3

11.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.78 PKR 495

6.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.16 PKR 321

18.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$2.37 PKR 657

-0.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$0.93 PKR 258

145.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.19 PKR 52.3

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$9.56 PKR 2,653

122.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.93 PKR 258

36.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.37 PKR 103

86.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$1.58 PKR 439

4.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.00 PKR 277

32.00%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

200.59%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

3.45%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-11.24%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$5.55 PKR 1,541

5.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$8.86 PKR 2,459

84.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$14.47 PKR 4,015

101.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$4.26 PKR 1,182

17.61%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$49.51 PKR 13.7K

51.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$839 PKR 232.6K

506.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$5.52 PKR 1,532

326.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$9.14 PKR 2,535

257.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$90.3 PKR 25.0K

-7.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$10.71 PKR 2,970

266.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$126 PKR 34.8K

120.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$77.0 PKR 21.4K

87.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$249 PKR 69.1K

131.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$151 PKR 41.8K

76.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$945 PKR 262.2K

72.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$527 PKR 146.2K

57.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$294 PKR 81.6K

29.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

-12.80%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Muzaffarabad: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $126 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 30% 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 $16.00 in Muzaffarabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $84.0 – making Muzaffarabad 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 Muzaffarabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 45%, 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 $884 per month in Islamabad and $609 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 22% 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 $16.00 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 $589 in Islamabad and $406 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.