Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Rahim Yar Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Rahim Yar Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $368 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $532 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $696 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 45% more than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Rahim Yar Khan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.75 PKR 487

62.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$8.91 PKR 2,474

60.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$3.20 PKR 890

70.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.76 PKR 487

-2.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$3.26 PKR 906

17.18%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$0.89 PKR 248

121.35%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.24 PKR 66.8

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.16 PKR 45.10

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.59 PKR 164

62.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.59 PKR 165

11.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.07 PKR 298

19.63%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.07 PKR 297

12.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$4.26 PKR 1,183

42.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.16 PKR 600

56.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.15 PKR 875

38.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.86 PKR 238

20.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.72 PKR 201

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.58 PKR 160

56.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.48 PKR 133

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.40 PKR 112

2.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.39 PKR 109

46.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.61 PKR 169

-49.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.29 PKR 79.4

41.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.88 PKR 521

6.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.57 PKR 435

-40.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$1.94 PKR 539

5.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.01 PKR 557

6.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.15 PKR 42.71

13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$6.90 PKR 1,915

4.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.08 PKR 301

-21.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.44 PKR 122

-2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$1.43 PKR 398

95.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$1.00 PKR 277

-2.00%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-6.84%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

17.97%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$105 PKR 29.0K

8.72%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$3.13 PKR 870

72.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$13.57 PKR 3,767

37.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$14.31 PKR 3,972

54.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,699

$5.96 PKR 1,656

2.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$2.70 PKR 749

53.33%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$17.70 PKR 4,914

240.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

$880 PKR 244.3K

212.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$12.56 PKR 3,489

67.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$21.30 PKR 5,915

29.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

65.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$28.66 PKR 7,959

42.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$79.8 PKR 22.2K

149.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$61.0 PKR 16.9K

80.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$113 PKR 31.4K

346.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$95.5 PKR 26.5K

212.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$529 PKR 146.9K

186.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$442 PKR 122.8K

46.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$90.9 PKR 25.3K

323.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.43

15.89%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan. 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 323% 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 $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $75.0 – making Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Islamabad and $552 in Rahim Yar Khan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. 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 $534 in Islamabad and $368 in Rahim Yar Khan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Rahim Yar Khan – 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 Rahim Yar Khan. 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.