Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Peshawar Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Peshawar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $379 in Peshawar, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $564 in Peshawar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $749 in Peshawar, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 40% more than Peshawar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Peshawar are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Peshawar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.23 PKR 621

25.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$10.77 PKR 2,995

32.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.58 PKR 996

51.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.44 PKR 401

19.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$2.73 PKR 758

46.52%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.77 PKR 492

12.99%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.28 PKR 76.8

53.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.17 PKR 47.72

29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.82 PKR 227

14.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.61 PKR 169

1.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.12 PKR 312

8.04%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.24 PKR 346

-3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$3.36 PKR 935

80.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.07 PKR 855

10.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$3.66 PKR 1,017

19.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.04 PKR 290

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.65 PKR 180

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.97 PKR 270

-4.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.45 PKR 126

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.39 PKR 109

5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.45 PKR 124

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.22 PKR 61.1

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.32 PKR 88.1

15.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$0.75 PKR 208

157.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.56 PKR 435

-42.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$3.48 PKR 969

-42.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.80 PKR 502

18.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.16 PKR 45.28

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,920

$6.90 PKR 1,918

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.68 PKR 190

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.75 PKR 209

-41.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.82 PKR 507

54.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.00 PKR 278

-9.00%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

80.69%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

14.77%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$96.3 PKR 26.8K

16.00%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.24 PKR 1,179

28.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$10.89 PKR 3,028

72.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$9.91 PKR 2,757

123.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$6.88 PKR 1,913

-12.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$4.28 PKR 1,191

-1.64%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$30.41 PKR 8,459

98.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$519 PKR 144.5K

439.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$13.14 PKR 3,656

64.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,685

$19.22 PKR 5,346

43.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$38.29 PKR 10.7K

130.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$32.48 PKR 9,035

22.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$119 PKR 33.2K

65.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

116.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$206 PKR 57.4K

148.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

210.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$173 PKR 48.0K

124.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

21.17

-4.58%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $119 in Peshawar. 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 124% 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 Peshawar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $82.0 – making Peshawar 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 Peshawar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 40%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $569 in Peshawar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 20% 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 Peshawar. 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 $529 in Islamabad and $379 in Peshawar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Peshawar – 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 Peshawar. 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.