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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $430 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $631 in Nawabshah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $832 in Nawabshah, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 23% more than Nawabshah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Nawabshah are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Nawabshah 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.14 PKR 594

30.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,956

$12.49 PKR 3,476

13.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,513

$3.99 PKR 1,111

36.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$2.00 PKR 556

-14.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$5.20 PKR 1,447

-23.08%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 558

$1.84 PKR 512

8.70%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.36 PKR 100

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.21 PKR 58.4

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.73 PKR 202

28.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.31 PKR 85.1

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.17 PKR 324

3.42%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.02 PKR 283

17.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,690

$6.52 PKR 1,814

-6.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.19 PKR 608

54.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,219

$3.69 PKR 1,026

18.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.08 PKR 301

-4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.43 PKR 120

81.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.69 PKR 191

34.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.28 PKR 78.8

114.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.28 PKR 78.5

46.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.51 PKR 143

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.38 PKR 107

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.40 PKR 112

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 538

$1.23 PKR 343

56.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.32 PKR 366

-31.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.13 PKR 594

-6.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.66 PKR 461

28.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.18 PKR 50.7

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.28 PKR 2,025

-5.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.74 PKR 206

16.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.67 PKR 187

-34.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.82 PKR 506

54.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.93 PKR 259

-2.15%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

31.43%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

4.50%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-15.57%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,513

$4.89 PKR 1,360

11.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,235

$13.65 PKR 3,797

37.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,176

$12.35 PKR 3,438

79.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,680

$5.78 PKR 1,609

4.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,172

$4.16 PKR 1,158

1.20%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$57.0 PKR 15.9K

5.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.4K

$1,377 PKR 383.1K

103.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 6,001

$17.82 PKR 4,958

21.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,688

$25.09 PKR 6,982

10.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$65.7 PKR 18.3K

34.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$35.56 PKR 9,895

12.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

167.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$52.1 PKR 14.5K

114.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.7K

$164 PKR 45.7K

211.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.4K

$106 PKR 29.6K

178.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.6K

$1,008 PKR 280.4K

53.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 183.0K

$530 PKR 147.3K

24.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$128 PKR 35.6K

202.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.8

13.48%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $73.9 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 203% 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 $12.00 in Nawabshah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $81.0 – 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 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $644 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 21% 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 $12.00 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 $529 in Islamabad and $430 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.