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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $420 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $617 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $814 in Quetta, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 41% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Quetta 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$3.70 PKR 1,026

-3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$10.78 PKR 2,987

115.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$4.53 PKR 1,255

20.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$1.81 PKR 502

104.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$5.27 PKR 1,460

27.70%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$1.59 PKR 442

57.86%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.39 PKR 107

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.20 PKR 54.4

5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.69 PKR 192

36.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.56 PKR 155

33.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.23 PKR 341

1.63%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.22 PKR 337

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$4.93 PKR 1,366

22.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.83 PKR 785

13.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$5.12 PKR 1,419

6.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.93 PKR 258

34.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.57 PKR 159

42.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.69 PKR 190

49.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.55 PKR 153

-5.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.30 PKR 82.0

-13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.56 PKR 156

-41.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.43 PKR 118

-30.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.39 PKR 108

7.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.75 PKR 485

14.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.08 PKR 300

14.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$2.84 PKR 788

-8.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.09 PKR 579

11.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.13 PKR 36.35

53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$10.27 PKR 2,845

112.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.04 PKR 288

24.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.43 PKR 120

72.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.78 PKR 493

-9.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.07 PKR 296

16.82%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

125.49%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

1.48%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$103 PKR 28.5K

1.47%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$8.11 PKR 2,246

-27.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$16.41 PKR 4,547

-1.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$5.78 PKR 1,602

396.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$3.33 PKR 923

31.23%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$34.78 PKR 9,635

115.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$995 PKR 275.5K

411.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$8.08 PKR 2,237

210.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$22.81 PKR 6,318

53.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

37.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$34.10 PKR 9,446

17.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

289.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

178.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$165 PKR 45.8K

256.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

178.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$376 PKR 104.3K

331.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$219 PKR 60.6K

273.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$274 PKR 75.9K

38.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $71.4 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 38% 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 Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $89.0 – 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 41%, 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 $630 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 16% 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 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 $593 in Islamabad and $420 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.