Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sheikhupura Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sheikhupura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Islamabad vs $452 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Islamabad vs $670 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Islamabad vs $887 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 18% more than Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Sheikhupura are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Sheikhupura 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 803

$2.78 PKR 772

3.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$14.03 PKR 3,895

0.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$5.39 PKR 1,497

0.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$1.80 PKR 499

-2.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$3.96 PKR 1,099

-4.29%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$2.05 PKR 568

-3.41%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.42 PKR 118

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.22 PKR 60.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.54 PKR 150

88.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.54 PKR 151

14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.04 PKR 287

17.31%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.21 PKR 337

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$6.17 PKR 1,711

-2.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$1.75 PKR 487

92.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$2.88 PKR 799

55.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$1.03 PKR 286

-2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.77 PKR 214

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.91 PKR 251

2.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.55 PKR 153

3.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.42 PKR 116

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.57 PKR 158

1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.31 PKR 84.8

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.42 PKR 393

33.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.88 PKR 243

-3.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$1.95 PKR 540

0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$2.07 PKR 575

1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.17 PKR 46.80

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$6.99 PKR 1,939

2.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.89 PKR 248

-5.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.43 PKR 120

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$2.87 PKR 798

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.90 PKR 251

3.33%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-2.47%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

0.48%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$113 PKR 31.5K

-0.39%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$5.46 PKR 1,516

-1.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$18.60 PKR 5,163

0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$12.62 PKR 3,502

80.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$5.90 PKR 1,638

2.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$4.19 PKR 1,163

3.82%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

1.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$1,088 PKR 302.1K

156.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$21.69 PKR 6,021

-2.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,806

$27.57 PKR 7,652

2.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

3.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$39.70 PKR 11.0K

1.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

163.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

115.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$168 PKR 46.7K

205.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$108 PKR 29.9K

177.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$859 PKR 238.3K

82.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$531 PKR 147.4K

21.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $75.0 in Sheikhupura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Sheikhupura. Groceries tell a different story – $99.0 in Islamabad vs $80.0 in Sheikhupura – so Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 18%, 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 $798 per month in Islamabad and $678 in Sheikhupura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 24% 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 Sheikhupura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $532 in Islamabad and $452 in Sheikhupura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sheikhupura – 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 Sheikhupura. 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.