Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Nowshera Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Nowshera

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $499 in Nowshera, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $767 in Nowshera, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $1,035 in Nowshera, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 18% more than Nowshera, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Islamabad and Nowshera are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Nowshera 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.53 PKR 979

1.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$23.17 PKR 6,423

-1.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$5.46 PKR 1,513

0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$3.54 PKR 982

0.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$7.00 PKR 1,940

-4.14%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.48 PKR 688

-3.63%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.33 PKR 90.2

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.24 PKR 66.8

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.94 PKR 261

5.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.74 PKR 206

6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.26 PKR 348

1.59%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.23 PKR 342

4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$5.89 PKR 1,632

3.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$3.19 PKR 885

-4.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$5.07 PKR 1,407

0.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.27 PKR 352

5.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.82 PKR 228

2.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.07 PKR 297

-4.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.46 PKR 128

6.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.27 PKR 74.6

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.32 PKR 89.8

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.27 PKR 74.7

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.85 PKR 513

2.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.38 PKR 381

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.48 PKR 687

-5.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.40 PKR 665

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.20 PKR 55.6

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$11.34 PKR 3,144

87.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.24 PKR 344

2.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.70 PKR 195

-1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.64 PKR 454

0.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.26 PKR 350

4.76%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

147.03%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-0.11%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$103 PKR 28.4K

-0.44%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.88 PKR 1,630

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$16.19 PKR 4,489

0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$15.94 PKR 4,420

82.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.73 PKR 1,312

5.92%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

0.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$999 PKR 277.0K

408.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$23.51 PKR 6,518

0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$31.94 PKR 8,855

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$82.4 PKR 22.8K

1.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$39.52 PKR 11.0K

-0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$115 PKR 31.9K

140.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$76.3 PKR 21.2K

89.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$277 PKR 76.9K

108.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$159 PKR 44.1K

67.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$808 PKR 224.0K

102.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

$538 PKR 149.2K

54.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Nowshera: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $115 in Nowshera. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad versus $23.00 in Nowshera. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Islamabad vs $101 in Nowshera – so Nowshera 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 Nowshera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $749 in Nowshera. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nowshera, 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 $23.00 in Nowshera. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad and $499 in Nowshera, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Nowshera – 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 Nowshera. 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.