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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $537 per month in Islamabad vs $442 in Sargodha, rent included.

A couple spends around $845 per month in Islamabad vs $656 in Sargodha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,154 per month in Islamabad vs $871 in Sargodha, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 21% more than Sargodha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Sargodha are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Sargodha 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PKR 769

$1.42 PKR 396

94.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.32 PKR 3,980

$14.41 PKR 4,007

-0.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,454

$5.42 PKR 1,506

-3.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 488

$1.81 PKR 504

-3.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PKR 1,096

$3.92 PKR 1,090

0.51%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 578

$2.05 PKR 571

1.46%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.43 PKR 118

-6.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.22 PKR 61.1

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 277

$0.70 PKR 194

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.67 PKR 186

-5.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.27 PKR 353

-0.79%

Eggs

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.73 PKR 203

72.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,747

$6.26 PKR 1,740

0.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$1.90 PKR 528

78.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.32 PKR 1,202

0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.52 PKR 143

98.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.78 PKR 218

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.88 PKR 245

2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.56 PKR 156

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.58 PKR 160

-6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.40 PKR 111

2.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.41 PKR 392

41.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.92 PKR 255

1.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 545

$1.95 PKR 542

0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 573

$2.09 PKR 582

-1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.81

$0.18 PKR 48.93

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,960

$7.03 PKR 1,955

0.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.85 PKR 236

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.41 PKR 113

-2.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 PKR 793

$2.87 PKR 797

-0.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.96 PKR 267

2.08%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-3.90%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

-0.84%

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

$112 PKR 31.2K

$110 PKR 30.6K

1.95%

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

$5.37 PKR 1,492

$5.64 PKR 1,569

-4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.53 PKR 5,152

$18.71 PKR 5,201

-0.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.84 PKR 6,351

$12.24 PKR 3,403

86.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 PKR 1,670

$5.88 PKR 1,634

2.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 PKR 1,158

$4.18 PKR 1,162

-0.24%

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

$59.2 PKR 16.5K

$58.9 PKR 16.4K

0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,812 PKR 781.8K

$1,096 PKR 304.8K

156.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.16 PKR 5,883

$21.41 PKR 5,953

-1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 PKR 7,827

$28.29 PKR 7,864

-0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$89.3 PKR 24.8K

0.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 PKR 11.0K

$40.47 PKR 11.3K

-2.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

165.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$52.5 PKR 14.6K

112.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.1K

$167 PKR 46.5K

207.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$107 PKR 29.7K

178.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.5K

$872 PKR 242.5K

73.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$637 PKR 177.2K

$490 PKR 136.3K

29.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$382 PKR 106.2K

$176 PKR 49.0K

116.94%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Sargodha: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $74.2 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 117% 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 – $100 in Islamabad vs $85.0 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 21%, 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 $805 per month in Islamabad and $663 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 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 $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 $537 in Islamabad and $442 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.