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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $533 per month in Islamabad vs $352 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Islamabad vs $550 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,166 per month in Islamabad vs $748 in Quetta, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 51% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$3.45 PKR 960

-16.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.01 PKR 3,894

$10.69 PKR 2,972

31.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,487

$4.40 PKR 1,223

21.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.80 PKR 500

-2.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PKR 1,105

$1.57 PKR 435

152.87%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PKR 561

$1.62 PKR 449

24.69%

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

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.42 PKR 118

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.22 PKR 61.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.74 PKR 207

37.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.46 PKR 129

43.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.07 PKR 298

18.69%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.08 PKR 299

13.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,675

$5.94 PKR 1,652

1.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 PKR 948

$2.49 PKR 691

36.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,260

$4.24 PKR 1,178

6.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.07 PKR 298

-3.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.56 PKR 155

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.57 PKR 158

57.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.52 PKR 145

5.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.29 PKR 80.6

31.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.50 PKR 139

12.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.30 PKR 83.3

36.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.42 PKR 395

40.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.36 PKR 101

158.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 560

$2.15 PKR 598

-6.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 598

$0.72 PKR 201

198.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.8

$0.18 PKR 49.40

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,933

$5.36 PKR 1,491

29.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.33 PKR 92.5

157.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.65 PKR 180

-36.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 781

$1.72 PKR 479

63.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.96 PKR 266

-1.04%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-1.72%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

112.39%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

112.84%

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

$5.36 PKR 1,492

$6.38 PKR 1,774

-15.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.59 PKR 5,168

$13.98 PKR 3,887

32.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.15 PKR 6,158

$5.09 PKR 1,415

335.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 PKR 1,638

$5.81 PKR 1,614

1.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$2.89 PKR 804

50.17%

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

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

$35.09 PKR 9,756

69.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

$424 PKR 117.8K

557.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.12 PKR 5,873

$7.22 PKR 2,006

192.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.99 PKR 7,782

$6.98 PKR 1,941

301.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-2.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

$29.19 PKR 8,116

35.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 56.0K

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

188.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.0K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

121.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.2K

$157 PKR 43.7K

227.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

212.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

$381 PKR 106.0K

311.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 PKR 179.6K

$220 PKR 61.3K

193.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

$213 PKR 59.3K

77.44%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Islamabad versus $69.9 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 77% 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: $100 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 51%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $799 per month in Islamabad and $527 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 19% 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 $533 in Islamabad and $352 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.