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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $504 in Sargodha, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $787 in Sargodha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $1,070 in Sargodha, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 18% more than Sargodha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Islamabad and Sargodha are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Sargodha 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$3.66 PKR 1,014

-2.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,430

$22.89 PKR 6,341

1.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.35 PKR 1,482

1.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.56 PKR 986

4.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,865

$7.02 PKR 1,945

-4.13%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$2.59 PKR 719

-3.09%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.0

$0.35 PKR 97.7

-5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.92 PKR 255

2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.76 PKR 210

-1.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.24 PKR 343

0.81%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.22 PKR 339

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$6.07 PKR 1,682

-0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$3.06 PKR 848

4.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$5.45 PKR 1,511

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.29 PKR 357

-3.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.80 PKR 222

1.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.06 PKR 294

-2.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.50 PKR 138

4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.28 PKR 78.3

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.6

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.30 PKR 83.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.40 PKR 110

5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.76 PKR 488

14.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.18 PKR 328

5.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

$2.62 PKR 726

-1.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.38 PKR 660

-2.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.17 PKR 48.22

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

$11.12 PKR 3,081

96.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.30 PKR 359

-0.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.74 PKR 206

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.59 PKR 440

1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.30 PKR 359

-3.85%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

154.88%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

1.17%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$102 PKR 28.3K

2.31%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.94 PKR 1,644

-1.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,480

$16.16 PKR 4,476

0.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,950

$16.98 PKR 4,702

69.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.43 PKR 1,226

-1.35%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$73.2 PKR 20.3K

2.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,007 PKR 279.0K

404.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,946

$24.85 PKR 6,884

0.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,725

$35.11 PKR 9,724

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$97.3 PKR 27.0K

0.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$41.03 PKR 11.4K

-2.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$128 PKR 35.4K

117.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$76.7 PKR 21.2K

80.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$250 PKR 69.4K

135.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.7K

$152 PKR 42.0K

82.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

$919 PKR 254.6K

76.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$525 PKR 145.4K

55.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$181 PKR 50.3K

108.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sargodha: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $128 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 109% 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 $23.00 in Sargodha. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Islamabad vs $102 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 18%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $757 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 1% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad and $23.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $504 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.