Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Talagang Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Talagang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $533 per month in Islamabad vs $395 in Talagang, rent included.

A couple spends around $843 per month in Islamabad vs $592 in Talagang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,152 per month in Islamabad vs $790 in Talagang, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 35% more than Talagang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Talagang are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Talagang 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PKR 771

$1.82 PKR 507

51.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.25 PKR 3,975

$10.43 PKR 2,910

36.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 PKR 1,485

$4.02 PKR 1,123

32.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 482

$1.82 PKR 507

-4.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PKR 1,109

$3.63 PKR 1,012

9.64%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 581

$1.49 PKR 414

39.60%

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.34 PKR 95.0

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.2

$0.23 PKR 64.3

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.78 PKR 216

24.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 185

$0.60 PKR 168

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 352

$1.21 PKR 337

4.13%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.18 PKR 330

7.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,680

$5.88 PKR 1,639

2.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 958

$2.66 PKR 742

28.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,227

$3.73 PKR 1,041

17.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 279

$1.04 PKR 290

-3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.64 PKR 180

32.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.62 PKR 173

45.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.49 PKR 136

16.33%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.33 PKR 93.1

12.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.91 PKR 534

$1.24 PKR 347

54.03%

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

$1.96 PKR 546

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 576

$1.90 PKR 531

8.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.4

$0.15 PKR 43.14

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,924

$7.14 PKR 1,992

-3.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.84 PKR 233

8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.44 PKR 123

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 801

$1.81 PKR 506

58.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 258

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-1.71%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

13.88%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$100 PKR 28.0K

11.14%

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

$5.57 PKR 1,555

$4.00 PKR 1,115

39.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 PKR 5,217

$13.89 PKR 3,873

34.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.29 PKR 6,219

$12.36 PKR 3,447

80.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.86 PKR 1,634

$6.04 PKR 1,684

-2.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,200

$3.63 PKR 1,013

18.46%

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

$60.6 PKR 16.9K

$29.34 PKR 8,184

106.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,738 PKR 763.9K

$1,125 PKR 313.7K

143.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.38 PKR 5,964

$15.20 PKR 4,241

40.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.45 PKR 7,935

$22.13 PKR 6,173

28.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 25.0K

$68.6 PKR 19.1K

30.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.17 PKR 11.2K

$29.36 PKR 8,192

36.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 55.0K

$76.5 PKR 21.3K

157.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$52.9 PKR 14.8K

110.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.8K

$165 PKR 45.9K

206.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PKR 81.6K

$106 PKR 29.5K

176.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,535 PKR 428.1K

$748 PKR 208.7K

105.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$752 PKR 209.7K

$569 PKR 158.8K

32.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$304 PKR 84.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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 Talagang: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $76 in Talagang. 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 in Islamabad versus $10 in Talagang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99 vs $87 – making Talagang 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 Talagang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 35%, 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 $800 per month in Islamabad and $592 in Talagang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $10.00 in Talagang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $533 in Islamabad and $395 in Talagang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Talagang – 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 Talagang. 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.