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 $589 per month in Islamabad vs $437 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $649 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $860 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 35% more than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Islamabad and Rahim Yar Khan are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$1.45 PKR 403

146.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,304

$10.86 PKR 3,010

109.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$4.44 PKR 1,231

23.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$2.75 PKR 763

29.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$5.11 PKR 1,416

31.31%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$0.82 PKR 227

191.46%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.30 PKR 84.4

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.20 PKR 55.2

10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.73 PKR 203

35.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.43 PKR 118

83.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$0.71 PKR 197

80.28%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.09 PKR 301

17.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$3.31 PKR 916

84.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$2.47 PKR 685

23.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$4.28 PKR 1,187

19.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$0.47 PKR 129

185.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.38 PKR 105

121.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.56 PKR 155

82.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.34 PKR 95.1

44.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.35 PKR 96.7

-17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.26 PKR 71.8

26.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.18 PKR 49.95

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.27 PKR 74.5

40.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.81 PKR 502

4.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.87 PKR 797

-18.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.20 PKR 609

3.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.28

$0.12 PKR 33.26

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.75 PKR 207

69.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.35 PKR 96.2

97.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$2.23 PKR 617

-26.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.02 PKR 282

29.41%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

113.61%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

7.65%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$143 PKR 39.7K

-28.68%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$4.88 PKR 1,352

19.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$14.19 PKR 3,935

15.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,065

$9.75 PKR 2,704

198.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

$17.77 PKR 4,925

-49.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.43 PKR 1,229

13.09%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$19.08 PKR 5,290

293.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,018 PKR 282.2K

399.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$11.04 PKR 3,060

113.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$18.14 PKR 5,028

80.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$92.1 PKR 25.5K

-9.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$25.70 PKR 7,125

52.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$126 PKR 34.9K

120.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$91.9 PKR 25.5K

56.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$274 PKR 76.0K

110.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$182 PKR 50.4K

46.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$550 PKR 152.4K

197.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 229.9K

$443 PKR 122.9K

87.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.7K

$90.9 PKR 25.2K

319.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.5

4.64%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $126 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 320% 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 Rahim Yar Khan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $68.0 – 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 35%, 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 $884 per month in Islamabad and $656 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad and $437 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.