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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $537 per month in Islamabad vs $455 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A couple spends around $845 per month in Islamabad vs $682 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,154 per month in Islamabad vs $909 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

$2.76 PKR 769

$2.79 PKR 774

-1.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.32 PKR 3,980

$14.41 PKR 4,005

-0.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,454

$5.17 PKR 1,437

1.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 488

$1.72 PKR 478

1.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PKR 1,096

$3.87 PKR 1,075

1.81%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.98 PKR 552

5.05%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.43 PKR 119

-6.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.24 PKR 67.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 277

$0.56 PKR 155

78.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.51 PKR 143

23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.04 PKR 289

21.15%

Eggs

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.27 PKR 352

-0.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,747

$6.35 PKR 1,766

-1.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$1.75 PKR 486

93.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$2.77 PKR 770

56.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.05 PKR 291

-1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.79 PKR 219

6.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.88 PKR 244

2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.57 PKR 158

5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.42 PKR 116

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.57 PKR 157

-5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.33 PKR 92.1

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.45 PKR 404

37.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.91 PKR 253

2.20%

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

$2.08 PKR 579

-0.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.81

$0.16 PKR 45.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,960

$7.12 PKR 1,978

-0.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.87 PKR 241

3.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 PKR 793

$2.78 PKR 773

2.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.97 PKR 271

1.03%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-3.41%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

0.14%

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

$112 PKR 31.2K

$112 PKR 31.0K

0.68%

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

$5.37 PKR 1,492

$5.47 PKR 1,521

-1.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.53 PKR 5,152

$18.56 PKR 5,161

-0.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.84 PKR 6,351

$12.54 PKR 3,486

82.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 PKR 1,670

$5.82 PKR 1,618

3.26%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 PKR 1,158

$4.16 PKR 1,157

0.24%

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

$59.2 PKR 16.5K

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

-2.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,812 PKR 781.8K

$1,127 PKR 313.3K

149.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.16 PKR 5,883

$21.07 PKR 5,859

0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 PKR 7,827

$27.55 PKR 7,659

2.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$88.4 PKR 24.6K

1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 PKR 11.0K

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

-2.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

160.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

116.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 PKR 143.1K

$170 PKR 47.2K

203.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 82.9K

$104 PKR 28.9K

186.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.5K

$765 PKR 212.7K

97.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$637 PKR 177.2K

$429 PKR 119.4K

48.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$382 PKR 106.2K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $75.5 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 – $100 in Islamabad vs $81.0 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 $805 per month in Islamabad and $682 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 $537 in Islamabad and $455 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.