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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $509 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $795 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $1,081 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 17% more than Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$3.66 PKR 1,013

-2.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,430

$23.26 PKR 6,443

-0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.51 PKR 1,526

-1.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.51 PKR 971

5.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,865

$6.76 PKR 1,873

-0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$2.53 PKR 701

-0.79%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.0

$0.33 PKR 90.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.21 PKR 57.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.95 PKR 262

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.80 PKR 222

-6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.25 PKR 348

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.27 PKR 351

-4.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$6.03 PKR 1,670

0.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$3.19 PKR 884

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$5.23 PKR 1,448

4.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.27 PKR 351

-1.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.86 PKR 238

-5.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.08 PKR 299

-4.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.53 PKR 147

-1.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.26 PKR 71.9

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.6

$0.33 PKR 90.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.28 PKR 76.6

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.43 PKR 118

-2.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.79 PKR 496

12.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.23 PKR 342

0.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.40 PKR 664

-3.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.21 PKR 57.0

-4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,056

$8.81 PKR 2,441

148.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.24 PKR 343

4.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.69 PKR 190

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.65 PKR 456

-2.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.30 PKR 360

-3.85%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

147.12%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$24.4K PKR 6.7M

1.01%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$104 PKR 28.7K

0.78%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.78 PKR 1,602

1.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,480

$15.94 PKR 4,415

1.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,950

$14.98 PKR 4,148

91.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.44 PKR 1,229

-1.58%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

-1.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$997 PKR 276.1K

409.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,946

$24.52 PKR 6,791

2.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,725

$35.37 PKR 9,797

-0.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$97.1 PKR 26.9K

0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$40.46 PKR 11.2K

-1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$145 PKR 40.1K

92.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$79.9 PKR 22.1K

72.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$258 PKR 71.5K

128.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.7K

$142 PKR 39.3K

95.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

$968 PKR 268.1K

67.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$516 PKR 143.1K

58.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

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 Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $145 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $23.00 in Sheikhupura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $103 – making Islamabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 17%, 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 $763 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Islamabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $23.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $509 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.