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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Islamabad vs $298 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Islamabad vs $443 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Islamabad vs $588 in Okara, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 78% 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 803

$1.07 PKR 297

170.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$10.75 PKR 2,983

31.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$4.28 PKR 1,188

26.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.88 PKR 799

-38.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$1.82 PKR 504

108.24%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.20 PKR 332

65.00%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 98.5

11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.23 PKR 63.8

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.72 PKR 200

41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.44 PKR 121

40.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.16 PKR 323

5.17%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.20 PKR 333

1.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$2.19 PKR 608

175.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$2.26 PKR 626

49.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$3.25 PKR 903

37.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$1.05 PKR 293

-4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.51 PKR 140

64.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.40 PKR 110

132.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.48 PKR 133

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 98.5

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.48 PKR 133

20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.43 PKR 119

-23.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.29 PKR 81.3

27.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.06 PKR 296

79.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.33 PKR 92.8

157.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$0.86 PKR 238

127.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$1.47 PKR 408

42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.10 PKR 26.64

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$2.78 PKR 770

158.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.74 PKR 205

13.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.50 PKR 138

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$1.81 PKR 503

58.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.87 PKR 243

6.90%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

20.41%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

10.92%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$87.0 PKR 24.1K

29.92%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$3.11 PKR 863

73.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$10.68 PKR 2,963

74.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$12.61 PKR 3,499

80.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$5.91 PKR 1,639

1.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$4.31 PKR 1,197

0.93%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$14.36 PKR 3,986

321.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$1,236 PKR 343.1K

125.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$14.92 PKR 4,140

41.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,806

$21.12 PKR 5,861

33.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$31.97 PKR 8,871

181.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$29.57 PKR 8,206

35.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$28.58 PKR 7,932

591.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$17.73 PKR 4,919

519.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$43.20 PKR 12.0K

1087.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$32.13 PKR 8,918

831.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$1,002 PKR 278.0K

56.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$520 PKR 144.3K

24.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

$146 PKR 40.4K

165.90%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Okara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $28.58 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 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 78%, 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 $798 per month in Islamabad and $447 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 $532 in Islamabad and $298 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.