Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sialkot Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sialkot

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $343 in Sialkot, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $486 in Sialkot, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $629 in Sialkot, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 56% more than Sialkot, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Sialkot are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Sialkot 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.07 PKR 298

166.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$7.25 PKR 2,012

96.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$2.69 PKR 746

102.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.81 PKR 502

-4.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$3.56 PKR 989

7.30%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.45 PKR 404

35.86%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.39 PKR 109

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.20 PKR 54.8

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.71 PKR 197

35.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.57 PKR 159

15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.12 PKR 311

14.29%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.19 PKR 332

0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$4.34 PKR 1,204

39.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$2.67 PKR 741

26.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$4.04 PKR 1,122

7.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.05 PKR 291

-0.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.66 PKR 183

27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.94 PKR 262

-3.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.55 PKR 154

1.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.39 PKR 108

5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.33 PKR 92.2

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.36 PKR 99.0

13.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.47 PKR 408

36.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.92 PKR 254

1.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$1.99 PKR 552

2.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.17 PKR 604

-1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.17 PKR 46.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$10.56 PKR 2,933

-31.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.73 PKR 202

16.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$2.75 PKR 764

1.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.96 PKR 266

2.08%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-2.79%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$26.5K PKR 7.4M

-2.03%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$112 PKR 31.2K

1.15%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$3.42 PKR 950

58.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$6.34 PKR 1,760

194.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$7.12 PKR 1,978

210.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,699

$5.42 PKR 1,506

12.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$4.34 PKR 1,204

-4.61%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$20.91 PKR 5,806

187.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

$269 PKR 74.7K

923.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$11.15 PKR 3,097

89.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$13.35 PKR 3,708

107.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$26.47 PKR 7,351

231.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$21.49 PKR 5,968

90.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$48.60 PKR 13.5K

309.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$31.65 PKR 8,788

247.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$107 PKR 29.7K

371.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$65.5 PKR 18.2K

355.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$150 PKR 41.7K

156.17%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Sialkot: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $48.60 in Sialkot. 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 156% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $7.00 in Sialkot. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $84.0 – making Sialkot 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 Sialkot: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Islamabad and $515 in Sialkot. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $7.00 in Sialkot. 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 $534 in Islamabad and $343 in Sialkot, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sialkot – 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 Sialkot. 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.