Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sargodha Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sargodha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $447 in Sargodha, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $667 in Sargodha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $887 in Sargodha, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 22% more than Sargodha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Sargodha are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Sargodha 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.39 PKR 388

106.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$14.24 PKR 3,970

-0.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$5.32 PKR 1,484

-1.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$1.76 PKR 490

-1.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$3.79 PKR 1,058

0.79%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$1.98 PKR 552

3.54%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.42 PKR 118

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.24 PKR 66.9

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.68 PKR 189

41.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.62 PKR 173

-1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.21 PKR 337

4.96%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$0.74 PKR 207

63.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$6.19 PKR 1,725

-0.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$1.83 PKR 511

90.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$4.31 PKR 1,201

1.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$0.55 PKR 153

87.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.78 PKR 219

5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.88 PKR 246

6.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.60 PKR 167

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.42 PKR 116

-9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.57 PKR 160

-7.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.31 PKR 86.3

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.47 PKR 410

33.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.88 PKR 245

4.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$1.96 PKR 547

1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$2.06 PKR 575

0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.20 PKR 55.5

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$7.12 PKR 1,984

-1.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.90 PKR 252

2.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.40 PKR 111

2.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$2.80 PKR 780

-1.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.92 PKR 255

6.52%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-1.00%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-0.80%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$112 PKR 31.3K

-0.64%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$5.46 PKR 1,522

1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$18.91 PKR 5,272

-1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$12.25 PKR 3,416

81.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$5.86 PKR 1,635

-0.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$4.31 PKR 1,201

-3.94%

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$61.2 PKR 17.1K

-0.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$1,121 PKR 312.6K

148.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$21.42 PKR 5,972

-0.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$27.49 PKR 7,663

3.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$87.0 PKR 24.3K

3.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$76.6 PKR 21.4K

160.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

115.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$166 PKR 46.3K

208.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$107 PKR 29.9K

168.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$795 PKR 221.7K

91.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$563 PKR 156.9K

31.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

$182 PKR 50.7K

69.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

44.29%

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

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sargodha: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $76.6 in Sargodha. 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 69% 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 $14.00 in Sargodha. Groceries tell a different story – $99.0 in Islamabad vs $84.0 in Sargodha – so Sargodha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sargodha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $670 in Sargodha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sargodha, 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 $14.00 in Sargodha. 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 $543 in Islamabad and $447 in Sargodha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sargodha – 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 Sargodha. 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.