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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Islamabad vs $451 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A couple spends around $851 per month in Islamabad vs $663 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,159 per month in Islamabad vs $876 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 20% more than Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Sheikhupura are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 59% lower, Sheikhupura 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 801

$2.89 PKR 805

-0.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,963

$14.39 PKR 4,011

-1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,459

$5.43 PKR 1,514

-3.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 486

$1.73 PKR 483

0.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,066

$3.90 PKR 1,088

-2.05%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 573

$2.08 PKR 581

-1.44%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.43 PKR 120

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.55 PKR 153

74.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.55 PKR 154

10.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.09 PKR 303

16.51%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.21 PKR 338

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,720

$6.34 PKR 1,768

-2.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 PKR 973

$1.82 PKR 508

91.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,225

$2.90 PKR 807

51.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.01 PKR 281

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 230

$0.78 PKR 216

5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.96 PKR 267

-2.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.57 PKR 158

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.39 PKR 109

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.58 PKR 161

-8.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.33 PKR 92.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.38 PKR 105

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.39 PKR 387

41.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.92 PKR 257

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

$1.96 PKR 547

1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 578

$2.06 PKR 575

0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.57

$0.20 PKR 54.7

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,945

$6.95 PKR 1,937

0.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.85 PKR 238

8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.41 PKR 114

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 767

$2.88 PKR 803

-4.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 274

$0.91 PKR 254

7.69%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

0.50%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-1.80%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$111 PKR 30.9K

0.48%

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

$5.52 PKR 1,538

$5.53 PKR 1,543

-0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,203

$18.40 PKR 5,129

1.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 PKR 6,207

$12.31 PKR 3,430

80.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,630

$5.83 PKR 1,624

0.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,153

$4.14 PKR 1,155

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

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

0.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

$1,102 PKR 307.1K

152.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.34 PKR 5,948

$21.06 PKR 5,870

1.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 PKR 7,898

$28.26 PKR 7,877

0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

$86.8 PKR 24.2K

3.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

0.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PKR 55.7K

$73.8 PKR 20.6K

170.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$50.9 PKR 14.2K

118.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 143.0K

$166 PKR 46.2K

209.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.4K

$108 PKR 30.2K

166.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

$761 PKR 212.1K

100.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.3K

$613 PKR 170.9K

20.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Islamabad versus $73.8 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 $82.0 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 20%, 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 $814 per month in Islamabad and $676 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 22% 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 $543 in Islamabad and $451 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.