Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Skardu Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Skardu

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 45% more expensive than Skardu without rent, and 36.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 54% more expensive than Skardu without rent, and 49% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 PKR 771
$1.80 PKR 502
53.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.25 PKR 3,975
$10.51 PKR 2,933
35.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,485
$4.06 PKR 1,133
31.03%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 PKR 482
$1.82 PKR 508
-4.95%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PKR 1,109
$3.58 PKR 999
11.17%
Cappuccino
$2.08 PKR 581
$0.46 PKR 127
352.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.32 PKR 88.5
31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 67.2
$0.21 PKR 58.6
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 269
$0.73 PKR 202
32.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 PKR 185
$0.61 PKR 169
8.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 352
$1.16 PKR 323
8.62%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 355
$1.12 PKR 312
13.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 PKR 1,680
$6.04 PKR 1,686
-0.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 PKR 958
$2.64 PKR 737
29.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 PKR 1,227
$3.59 PKR 1,001
22.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 279
$1.03 PKR 288
-2.91%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.66 PKR 183
28.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.62 PKR 173
45.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.52 PKR 146
9.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.37 PKR 103
2.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.51 PKR 141
11.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 93.0
$0.30 PKR 85.0
10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.34 PKR 94.5
8.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.91 PKR 534
$1.52 PKR 425
25.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 PKR 255
$0.87 PKR 242
4.60%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 PKR 566
$1.95 PKR 545
4.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 PKR 576
$1.91 PKR 533
7.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.4
$0.20 PKR 57.2
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,924
$7.11 PKR 1,982
-2.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.84 PKR 235
8.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.40 PKR 113
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 PKR 801
$1.74 PKR 486
64.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 258
$0.92 PKR 256
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
$21.2K PKR 5.9M
-1.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
$23.0K PKR 6.4M
13.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$102 PKR 28.5K
8.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57 PKR 1,555
$7.28 PKR 2,031
-23.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 PKR 5,217
$11.08 PKR 3,091
68.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.29 PKR 6,219
$12.25 PKR 3,416
81.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 PKR 1,634
$6.03 PKR 1,683
-2.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 PKR 1,200
$3.44 PKR 960
25.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
$30.30 PKR 8,451
99.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,738 PKR 763.9K
$1,125 PKR 313.8K
143.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.38 PKR 5,964
$15.39 PKR 4,293
38.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.45 PKR 7,935
$22.33 PKR 6,230
27.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
$71.0 PKR 19.8K
25.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
$28.76 PKR 8,022
39.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 PKR 55.0K
$75.1 PKR 21.0K
162.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$52.1 PKR 14.5K
113.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 PKR 140.8K
$164 PKR 45.8K
207.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 PKR 81.6K
$106 PKR 29.6K
175.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,535 PKR 428.1K
$701 PKR 195.5K
118.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$752 PKR 209.7K
$623 PKR 173.8K
20.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Skardu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 PKR 84.7K
$291 PKR 81.1K
4.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
19
6.32%

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

Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026

Last update for Skardu: April 13, 2026

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

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