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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $303 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $447 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $592 in Okara, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 79% more than Okara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Okara 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 802

$1.05 PKR 293

173.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,968

$10.41 PKR 2,907

36.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,461

$4.16 PKR 1,160

25.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$2.87 PKR 802

-39.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,067

$1.81 PKR 505

111.05%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.19 PKR 332

72.27%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 91.4

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.3

$0.23 PKR 64.3

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.72 PKR 201

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.44 PKR 122

38.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 356

$1.17 PKR 327

8.55%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.16 PKR 324

4.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,722

$2.25 PKR 629

174.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 975

$2.33 PKR 650

49.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,226

$3.21 PKR 897

36.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 289

$1.07 PKR 299

-3.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.51 PKR 142

60.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 264

$0.42 PKR 118

123.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.45 PKR 125

24.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.33 PKR 90.8

15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.51 PKR 143

3.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.29 PKR 81.4

27.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 548

$0.69 PKR 193

184.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.34 PKR 93.8

170.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 553

$0.90 PKR 252

120.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$1.52 PKR 424

36.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.63

$0.10 PKR 27.69

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,948

$2.86 PKR 799

144.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.70 PKR 194

31.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.49 PKR 137

-16.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 768

$1.80 PKR 502

52.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.96 PKR 269

2.08%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

21.05%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$23.1K PKR 6.5M

12.94%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$89.0 PKR 24.9K

25.18%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,540

$3.15 PKR 880

75.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,210

$10.40 PKR 2,903

79.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,215

$12.51 PKR 3,493

78.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,632

$5.83 PKR 1,627

0.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,155

$4.16 PKR 1,160

-0.48%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$14.22 PKR 3,968

327.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 776.4K

$1,255 PKR 350.4K

121.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,955

$15.02 PKR 4,193

42.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,909

$21.53 PKR 6,011

31.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.2K

$31.30 PKR 8,737

187.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$30.71 PKR 8,571

33.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.8K

$27.84 PKR 7,771

617.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$17.77 PKR 4,961

527.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.2K

$42.28 PKR 11.8K

1113.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.5K

$31.91 PKR 8,906

803.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.8K

$740 PKR 206.6K

106.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.6K

$505 PKR 140.9K

46.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.8K

$143 PKR 39.8K

115.35%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Okara: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $27.84 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 115% 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 $10.00 in Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99.0 vs $68.0 – 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 79%, 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 $814 per month in Islamabad and $454 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 $10.00 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 $543 in Islamabad and $303 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.