Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaranwala and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaranwala and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $416 per month in Jaranwala vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $640 per month in Jaranwala vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $863 per month in Jaranwala vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jaranwala is about 21% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jaranwala and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Jaranwala 69% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.80 PKR 779

-37.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,925

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-0.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 PKR 1,435

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-5.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 PKR 430

$1.72 PKR 478

-9.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 PKR 948

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-14.75%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.00 PKR 557

-13.50%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.9

$0.43 PKR 119

-20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 218

$0.94 PKR 260

-17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.62 PKR 173

-11.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.21 PKR 338

2.48%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.20 PKR 335

-2.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.08 PKR 1,692

$6.07 PKR 1,689

0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 943

$3.39 PKR 942

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.51 PKR 1,255

$4.38 PKR 1,218

2.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 281

$1.03 PKR 287

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.78 PKR 216

-14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.93 PKR 260

-3.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.60 PKR 166

-15.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.41 PKR 115

-12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.54 PKR 149

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.37 PKR 103

8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.93 PKR 537

-30.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 285

$0.90 PKR 251

13.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PKR 662

$1.99 PKR 552

19.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 536

$2.14 PKR 596

-9.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.9

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.19 PKR 2,000

$6.90 PKR 1,921

4.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.86 PKR 238

3.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.44 PKR 122

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 PKR 849

$2.81 PKR 782

8.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.91 PKR 253

-1.10%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-16.40%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-12.66%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-8.13%

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

$4.01 PKR 1,116

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-26.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.50 PKR 4,591

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-12.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,498

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-43.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.87 PKR 1,634

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-2.81%

Cinema Ticket

$3.63 PKR 1,010

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-13.78%

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

$40.35 PKR 11.2K

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-33.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$943 PKR 262.2K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-66.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.65 PKR 3,240

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-45.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.66 PKR 5,191

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-32.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.43 PKR 7,908

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-28.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.3 PKR 20.7K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-62.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.2 PKR 14.3K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-54.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 PKR 47.2K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-66.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-63.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$861 PKR 239.6K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-44.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$462 PKR 128.4K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-29.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

20.2

-0.15%

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

Last update for Jaranwala: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.3 in Jaranwala versus $198 in Islamabad. 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 Jaranwala versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $98.0 – making Jaranwala 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

Jaranwala vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 27%, 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 $624 per month in Jaranwala and $794 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 3% 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 Jaranwala and $14.00 in Islamabad. 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 $416 in Jaranwala and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jaranwala – 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 Jaranwala. 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.