Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Nawabshah Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Nawabshah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $604 per month in Islamabad vs $459 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A couple spends around $939 per month in Islamabad vs $696 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,275 per month in Islamabad vs $933 in Nawabshah, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 31% more than Nawabshah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Nawabshah are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 56% lower, Nawabshah 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 PKR 968

$2.18 PKR 603

60.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.94 PKR 6,356

$14.36 PKR 3,979

59.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,535

$5.50 PKR 1,524

0.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 PKR 1,017

$2.13 PKR 590

72.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 PKR 1,854

$7.18 PKR 1,988

-6.82%

Cappuccino

$2.57 PKR 711

$2.27 PKR 630

13.22%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.3

$0.33 PKR 92.2

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.23 PKR 63.7

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.88 PKR 243

5.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 218

$0.55 PKR 153

43.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 344

$1.25 PKR 346

-0.80%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 350

$1.26 PKR 349

0.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,712

$6.21 PKR 1,719

-0.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 PKR 879

$3.08 PKR 853

2.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-10.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.23 PKR 340

4.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.55 PKR 153

56.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.03 PKR 285

-1.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 134

$0.55 PKR 153

-10.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.4

$0.34 PKR 94.6

-23.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.2

$0.31 PKR 84.7

6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.28 PKR 76.6

$0.36 PKR 101

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.40 PKR 111

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.23 PKR 342

60.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.35 PKR 375

-11.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 PKR 742

$2.48 PKR 687

8.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 PKR 665

$1.84 PKR 511

30.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.4

$0.20 PKR 54.7

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.97 PKR 6,086

$9.75 PKR 2,702

125.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$0.69 PKR 190

86.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 PKR 435

$2.18 PKR 604

-27.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PKR 359

$1.32 PKR 365

-1.52%

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

$53.1K PKR 14.7M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

192.84%

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

$24.4K PKR 6.8M

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

-9.11%

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

$102 PKR 28.4K

$103 PKR 28.4K

-0.07%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,616

$5.83 PKR 1,615

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.65 PKR 4,336

$12.87 PKR 3,566

21.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.66 PKR 7,662

$14.74 PKR 4,084

87.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.86 PKR 2,456

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 PKR 1,194

$4.41 PKR 1,223

-2.27%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$49.84 PKR 13.8K

50.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,069 PKR 1.4M

$1,339 PKR 370.9K

278.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.79 PKR 6,868

$14.91 PKR 4,131

66.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.54 PKR 9,569

$22.57 PKR 6,253

53.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 PKR 26.7K

$65.0 PKR 18.0K

48.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.98 PKR 11.1K

$34.91 PKR 9,671

14.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 PKR 74.7K

$125 PKR 34.7K

115.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 PKR 38.7K

$76.3 PKR 21.1K

82.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$598 PKR 165.6K

$249 PKR 69.1K

139.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 PKR 77.9K

$149 PKR 41.2K

88.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,685 PKR 466.9K

$902 PKR 250.0K

86.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 PKR 226.3K

$520 PKR 144.0K

57.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 PKR 103.4K

$127 PKR 35.3K

192.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 8, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Islamabad versus $125 in Nawabshah. 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 193% 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 $14.00 in Nawabshah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $104 vs $101 – making Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $905 per month in Islamabad and $689 in Nawabshah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 2% 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 $14.00 in Nawabshah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $604 in Islamabad and $459 in Nawabshah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Nawabshah – 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 Nawabshah. 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.