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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $432 in Peshawar, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $604 in Peshawar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $777 in Peshawar, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 37% more than Peshawar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Peshawar are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Peshawar 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$2.46 PKR 681

44.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$8.51 PKR 2,358

172.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$4.81 PKR 1,333

13.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$2.21 PKR 614

67.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$2.83 PKR 784

137.81%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.29 PKR 357

94.57%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.31 PKR 85.8

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.17 PKR 45.74

23.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.93 PKR 257

1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.76 PKR 210

-1.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.04 PKR 288

20.19%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.06 PKR 294

14.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$3.59 PKR 995

68.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$3.18 PKR 881

0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$3.72 PKR 1,030

46.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.22 PKR 339

2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.52 PKR 144

55.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.63 PKR 174

63.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.53 PKR 147

-1.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.28 PKR 78.4

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.33 PKR 91.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.28 PKR 76.5

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.25 PKR 69.0

68.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.91 PKR 530

5.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.70 PKR 193

77.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$0.70 PKR 193

270.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$1.84 PKR 509

26.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.21 PKR 57.9

-4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$12.74 PKR 3,530

71.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.10 PKR 305

17.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.71 PKR 196

4.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.47 PKR 406

9.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.12 PKR 310

11.61%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

137.35%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$24.7K PKR 6.8M

-0.43%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$103 PKR 28.5K

1.56%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.96 PKR 1,650

-1.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$14.46 PKR 4,006

11.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$15.18 PKR 4,206

89.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

$5.91 PKR 1,638

43.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$1.93 PKR 536

126.42%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$45.99 PKR 12.7K

62.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$4,975 PKR 1.4M

2.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$7.14 PKR 1,978

251.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$16.33 PKR 4,523

115.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$51.0 PKR 14.1K

91.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$39.89 PKR 11.1K

0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$128 PKR 35.5K

117.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$78.8 PKR 21.8K

75.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$195 PKR 54.0K

203.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$116 PKR 32.2K

138.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$148 PKR 41.1K

155.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

18.91%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $128 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 155% 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 $9.00 in Peshawar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $83.0 – 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 37%, 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 $649 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 24% 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 $9.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $432 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.