Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Okara Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Okara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $498 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $718 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $939 in Okara, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 19% more than Okara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$2.52 PKR 698

41.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$14.23 PKR 3,942

63.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.56 PKR 1,539

-2.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.53 PKR 978

5.10%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$5.44 PKR 1,508

23.71%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$2.58 PKR 715

-2.71%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.39 PKR 108

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.26 PKR 72.6

-19.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.62 PKR 172

51.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.67 PKR 186

11.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.16 PKR 323

7.76%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.18 PKR 326

2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$6.32 PKR 1,751

-4.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.53 PKR 702

26.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$4.95 PKR 1,371

10.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.22 PKR 339

2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.68 PKR 189

19.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.86 PKR 239

19.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.65 PKR 181

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.30 PKR 83.8

-13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.33 PKR 91.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.50 PKR 138

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.37 PKR 102

13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.05 PKR 291

91.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.65 PKR 180

90.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$1.73 PKR 479

49.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.14 PKR 592

8.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.19 PKR 52.9

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$10.14 PKR 2,809

115.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$0.89 PKR 245

44.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.73 PKR 203

1.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.77 PKR 491

-9.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$0.93 PKR 256

34.41%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

205.83%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

-6.02%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-19.76%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.34 PKR 1,480

10.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$16.58 PKR 4,594

-2.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$6.17 PKR 1,708

365.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.25 PKR 1,176

2.82%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$14.66 PKR 4,061

410.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,987 PKR 550.4K

155.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$17.30 PKR 4,791

44.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$26.97 PKR 7,470

30.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$75.6 PKR 20.9K

28.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$31.95 PKR 8,851

24.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$127 PKR 35.2K

118.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

76.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$271 PKR 75.0K

118.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$130 PKR 36.0K

113.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$806 PKR 223.3K

101.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$489 PKR 135.3K

67.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$142 PKR 39.4K

166.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

14.28

-8.40%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Okara: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $127 in Okara. 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 166% 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 Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $94.0 – making Okara 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 Okara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 19%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $746 in Okara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 10% 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 Okara. 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 $593 in Islamabad and $498 in Okara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Okara – 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 Okara. 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.