Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Pakpattan Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Pakpattan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $450 in Pakpattan, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $625 in Pakpattan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $800 in Pakpattan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 32% more than Pakpattan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Pakpattan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Pakpattan 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$1.24 PKR 344

187.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,430

$10.86 PKR 3,007

113.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.38 PKR 1,490

1.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$2.63 PKR 729

41.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,865

$5.18 PKR 1,434

29.92%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.80 PKR 498

39.44%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.0

$0.20 PKR 54.6

65.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.10 PKR 28.52

110.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.63 PKR 174

49.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.51 PKR 140

47.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$0.92 PKR 254

35.87%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.11 PKR 306

9.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$7.28 PKR 2,015

-16.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.38 PKR 658

34.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$3.63 PKR 1,006

50.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.89 PKR 247

40.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.49 PKR 136

65.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.28 PKR 76.6

267.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.55 PKR 153

-5.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.39 PKR 108

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.6

$0.43 PKR 120

-23.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.50 PKR 138

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.34 PKR 95.4

23.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.81 PKR 500

11.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.96 PKR 265

29.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

$2.95 PKR 818

-12.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.14 PKR 593

8.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.19 PKR 51.4

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

$11.32 PKR 3,135

93.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.41 PKR 391

-8.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.38 PKR 104

94.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$0.89 PKR 246

80.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.03 PKR 284

21.36%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$25.2K PKR 7.0M

115.11%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

-7.84%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$146 PKR 40.5K

-28.58%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$4.84 PKR 1,340

21.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,480

$19.03 PKR 5,271

-14.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,950

$15.25 PKR 4,225

88.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.42 PKR 1,225

-1.13%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$12.57 PKR 3,481

495.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,028 PKR 284.7K

394.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,946

$10.90 PKR 3,020

130.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,725

$12.47 PKR 3,453

181.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$25.04 PKR 6,936

289.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$14.39 PKR 3,986

177.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$112 PKR 31.0K

148.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$78.2 PKR 21.7K

76.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$254 PKR 70.4K

132.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.7K

$150 PKR 41.6K

84.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

$857 PKR 237.4K

89.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$471 PKR 130.5K

73.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$109 PKR 30.1K

248.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

0.62%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Pakpattan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $112 in Pakpattan. 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 248% 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 $11.00 in Pakpattan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $83.0 – making Pakpattan 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 Pakpattan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 32%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $675 in Pakpattan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $11.00 in Pakpattan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $593 in Islamabad and $450 in Pakpattan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Pakpattan – 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 Pakpattan. 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.