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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $348 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $548 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $747 in Quetta, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 56% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$3.45 PKR 962

-16.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$10.48 PKR 2,922

35.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$4.53 PKR 1,264

15.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$1.81 PKR 503

-3.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$1.55 PKR 433

146.45%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.66 PKR 463

23.49%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.46 PKR 128

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.20 PKR 55.7

10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.68 PKR 190

41.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.44 PKR 122

38.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.03 PKR 288

23.30%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.13 PKR 314

7.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$6.18 PKR 1,723

-0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$2.59 PKR 721

34.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$4.21 PKR 1,174

4.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.52 PKR 146

57.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.56 PKR 156

67.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.51 PKR 143

9.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.31 PKR 87.0

22.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.50 PKR 140

6.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.35 PKR 98.1

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.32 PKR 90.4

15.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.45 PKR 403

35.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.34 PKR 94.1

170.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$2.10 PKR 585

-5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$0.69 PKR 193

200.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.18 PKR 50.3

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$5.42 PKR 1,512

28.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.37 PKR 102

148.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.65 PKR 182

-36.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$1.82 PKR 507

51.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.96 PKR 268

2.08%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

0.75%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$12.4K PKR 3.5M

109.95%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$53.8 PKR 15.0K

107.10%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$6.39 PKR 1,781

-13.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$14.35 PKR 4,001

30.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$4.99 PKR 1,390

346.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$6.00 PKR 1,673

-2.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$2.80 PKR 780

47.86%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$34.87 PKR 9,721

74.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$426 PKR 118.6K

553.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$7.22 PKR 2,013

195.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$7.20 PKR 2,007

293.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$87.5 PKR 24.4K

2.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$29.40 PKR 8,196

39.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$71.0 PKR 19.8K

181.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$48.89 PKR 13.6K

127.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$160 PKR 44.5K

221.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$98.4 PKR 27.4K

193.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$384 PKR 107.0K

297.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$221 PKR 61.6K

234.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

$216 PKR 60.2K

42.29%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $71.0 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 42% 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 $10.00 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 56%, 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 $814 per month in Islamabad and $522 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 $10.00 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 $543 in Islamabad and $348 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.