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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $533 per month in Islamabad vs $295 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Islamabad vs $438 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,166 per month in Islamabad vs $582 in Okara, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 81% more than Okara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Okara 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$1.04 PKR 288

177.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.01 PKR 3,894

$10.75 PKR 2,989

30.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,487

$4.11 PKR 1,144

30.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.90 PKR 805

-39.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PKR 1,105

$1.80 PKR 501

120.56%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PKR 561

$1.22 PKR 339

65.57%

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

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.35 PKR 97.9

11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.73 PKR 204

39.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.40 PKR 111

65.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.21 PKR 336

4.96%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.16 PKR 323

6.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,675

$2.23 PKR 620

169.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 PKR 948

$2.36 PKR 656

44.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,260

$3.19 PKR 888

42.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.05 PKR 293

-1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.55 PKR 153

52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.42 PKR 118

114.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.45 PKR 125

22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.36 PKR 98.8

5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.52 PKR 146

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.43 PKR 119

-30.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.29 PKR 80.8

41.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 553

$0.92 PKR 257

116.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.36 PKR 101

158.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 560

$0.92 PKR 255

118.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 598

$1.53 PKR 425

40.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.8

$0.12 PKR 33.14

58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,933

$2.85 PKR 793

143.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.69 PKR 192

23.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.53 PKR 146

-22.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 781

$1.73 PKR 481

62.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.91 PKR 253

4.40%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

19.69%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

10.89%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$90.2 PKR 25.1K

24.08%

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

$5.36 PKR 1,492

$3.10 PKR 861

72.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.59 PKR 5,168

$10.65 PKR 2,961

74.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.15 PKR 6,158

$12.63 PKR 3,511

75.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 PKR 1,638

$6.05 PKR 1,682

-2.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.30 PKR 1,195

0.93%

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

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

$14.01 PKR 3,896

323.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

$1,239 PKR 344.6K

124.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.12 PKR 5,873

$15.26 PKR 4,243

38.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.99 PKR 7,782

$20.82 PKR 5,788

34.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

$31.73 PKR 8,821

176.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

$30.48 PKR 8,474

29.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 56.0K

$28.65 PKR 7,966

603.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.0K

$17.41 PKR 4,839

541.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.2K

$41.87 PKR 11.6K

1130.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$32.08 PKR 8,919

829.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

$1,004 PKR 279.2K

56.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 PKR 179.6K

$515 PKR 143.3K

25.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

$145 PKR 40.3K

160.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

19.88

1.61%

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

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Last update for Okara: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Islamabad versus $28.65 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 161% 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 $11.00 in Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $69.0 – 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 81%, 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 $799 per month in Islamabad and $442 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 46% 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 $11.00 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 $533 in Islamabad and $295 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.