Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Islamabad vs $346 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Islamabad vs $537 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Islamabad vs $728 in Quetta, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 54% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 803

$3.52 PKR 977

-17.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$10.63 PKR 2,950

32.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$4.38 PKR 1,216

23.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$1.72 PKR 478

2.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$1.55 PKR 431

144.52%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.70 PKR 471

16.47%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.42 PKR 117

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.20 PKR 55.4

10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.74 PKR 206

37.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.46 PKR 128

34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.03 PKR 285

18.45%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.12 PKR 310

8.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$5.92 PKR 1,644

2.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$2.58 PKR 716

30.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$4.12 PKR 1,143

8.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$1.04 PKR 289

-3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.55 PKR 154

52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.57 PKR 157

63.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.48 PKR 133

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.31 PKR 87.2

32.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.48 PKR 132

20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.35 PKR 98.5

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.32 PKR 90.1

15.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.45 PKR 402

31.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.34 PKR 93.1

150.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$2.09 PKR 581

-6.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$0.69 PKR 192

204.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.16 PKR 43.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$5.23 PKR 1,453

37.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.36 PKR 101

133.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.62 PKR 171

-29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$1.73 PKR 481

65.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.97 PKR 268

-4.12%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-2.13%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$12.1K PKR 3.4M

116.88%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

114.89%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$6.41 PKR 1,778

-15.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$14.32 PKR 3,975

29.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$4.96 PKR 1,378

359.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$5.76 PKR 1,600

4.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$2.90 PKR 805

50.00%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$34.09 PKR 9,461

77.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$417 PKR 115.7K

569.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$6.98 PKR 1,937

203.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,806

$7.24 PKR 2,010

288.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$87.1 PKR 24.2K

3.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$29.59 PKR 8,213

35.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

182.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$49.30 PKR 13.7K

122.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$159 PKR 44.1K

223.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$96.5 PKR 26.8K

210.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$376 PKR 104.2K

317.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$214 PKR 59.3K

202.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

$271 PKR 75.3K

42.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

68.33%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Quetta: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $69.8 in Quetta. 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 43% 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 Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99.0 vs $84.0 – making Quetta 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 Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 54%, 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 $519 in Quetta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 18% 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 Quetta. 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 $346 in Quetta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quetta – 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 Quetta. 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.