Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Pattoki

For one person, living is cheaper in Pattoki: $507 a month against $608 in Islamabad, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Islamabad, Pakistan
Pattoki, Pakistan
Islamabad
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$608
/mo nomad
Pattoki
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$507
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Islamabad and in Pattoki

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Islamabad and in Pattoki actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $608 per month in Islamabad vs $507 in Pattoki, rent included.

  • Islamabad $608
  • Pattoki $507

A couple spends around $950 per month in Islamabad vs $741 in Pattoki, rent included.

  • Islamabad $950
  • Pattoki $741

A family of three spends $1,292 per month in Islamabad vs $976 in Pattoki, rent included.

  • Islamabad $1,292
  • Pattoki $976

Islamabad costs about 20% more than Pattoki, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Islamabad and Pattoki are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 55% lower, Pattoki 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 PKR 987
$2.57 PKR 710
38.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.14 PKR 6,679
$10.67 PKR 2,950
126.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.37 PKR 1,484
$5.57 PKR 1,541
-3.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.73 PKR 1,031
$2.76 PKR 765
35.14%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 PKR 1,949
$5.36 PKR 1,483
31.34%
Cappuccino
$2.67 PKR 739
$1.83 PKR 507
45.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 PKR 95.7
$0.30 PKR 84.1
16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 66.6
$0.15 PKR 42.51
60.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 PKR 273
$0.73 PKR 202
35.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 PKR 203
$0.51 PKR 141
45.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 358
$1.07 PKR 297
20.56%
Eggs
$1.32 PKR 366
$1.14 PKR 316
15.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.97 PKR 1,653
$6.63 PKR 1,835
-9.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 PKR 838
$2.52 PKR 697
20.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.52 PKR 1,528
$4.42 PKR 1,224
24.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 PKR 374
$0.89 PKR 247
51.69%
Banana (1kg)
$0.86 PKR 239
$0.50 PKR 138
72.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 PKR 287
$0.70 PKR 194
48.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 151
$0.57 PKR 158
-3.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 83.4
$0.39 PKR 109
-23.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 PKR 110
$0.43 PKR 119
-6.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.28 PKR 77.1
$0.50 PKR 139
-44.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKR 118
$0.37 PKR 103
16.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.00 PKR 552
$1.79 PKR 497
11.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 PKR 347
$1.07 PKR 295
16.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 PKR 729
$2.38 PKR 657
10.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 PKR 652
$2.21 PKR 612
6.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKR 46.20
$0.15 PKR 42.63
13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.61 PKR 5,978
$9.69 PKR 2,680
123.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 PKR 355
$1.46 PKR 404
-12.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 PKR 194
$0.34 PKR 95.0
105.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.65 PKR 456
$0.86 PKR 238
91.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 PKR 369
$1.16 PKR 320
14.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.3K PKR 15.0M
$25.3K PKR 7.0M
114.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K PKR 6.4M
$23.0K PKR 6.4M
0.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.5K
$142 PKR 39.2K
-27.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.17 PKR 1,707
$4.98 PKR 1,378
23.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 PKR 4,802
$19.20 PKR 5,311
-9.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.65 PKR 9,309
$14.73 PKR 4,075
128.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.62 PKR 2,384
$8.11 PKR 2,245
6.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 PKR 1,376
$4.39 PKR 1,215
13.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$326 PKR 90.2K
$42.98 PKR 11.9K
658.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K PKR 6.2M
$1,004 PKR 277.8K
2132.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.82 PKR 7,143
$17.95 PKR 4,966
43.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.52 PKR 9,549
$19.10 PKR 5,283
80.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.6 PKR 26.5K
$94.5 PKR 26.1K
1.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.07 PKR 11.4K
$26.04 PKR 7,204
57.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$248 PKR 68.5K
$134 PKR 37.0K
85.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 PKR 38.5K
$83.9 PKR 23.2K
65.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$549 PKR 151.8K
$271 PKR 74.9K
102.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$280 PKR 77.5K
$177 PKR 49.0K
58.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,655 PKR 457.9K
$830 PKR 229.7K
99.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$825 PKR 228.1K
$495 PKR 137.0K
66.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Pattoki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$384 PKR 106.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.08
13
0.62%

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

Last update for Islamabad: November 1, 2026

Last update for Pattoki: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
$139
Pattoki
$84 39.7% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
$126
Pattoki
$166 31.2% $39
Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
$104
Pattoki
$89 14.8% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
$89
Pattoki
$71 20.1% $18
Eating Out
Islamabad
$79
Pattoki
$61 22.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
$44
Pattoki
$24 46.1% $20
Getting Around
Islamabad
$27
Pattoki
$13 50.2% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Islamabad versus $134 in Pattoki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24 in Islamabad versus $11 in Pattoki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $104 vs $89 – making Pattoki the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Islamabad
🇵🇰 Pattoki
🕒 Local time
02:08 2:08 AM
02:08 2:08 AM
Same time as Islamabad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,009,832 Capital
87,737
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Islamabad Pattoki 310 km
From you
  • Islamabad
  • Pattoki

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Pattoki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pattoki cheaper than Islamabad?
Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 20%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $912 per month in Islamabad and $761 in Pattoki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pattoki, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $134 there versus $248 in Islamabad.
How do food prices compare in Islamabad and in Pattoki?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Islamabad, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Islamabad or in Pattoki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24 in Islamabad and $11 in Pattoki. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Islamabad or Pattoki?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $608 in Islamabad and $507 in Pattoki, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Islamabad or Pattoki more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pattoki – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Pattoki is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 17% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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