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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $410 per month in Jaranwala vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $632 per month in Jaranwala vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $854 per month in Jaranwala vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jaranwala is about 23% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jaranwala and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Jaranwala 69% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.85 PKR 791

-39.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.90 PKR 3,860

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-2.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 PKR 1,465

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-2.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 PKR 447

$1.72 PKR 477

-6.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 981

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-7.59%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 476

$1.97 PKR 547

-13.20%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.40 PKR 110

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.96 PKR 268

-10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.66 PKR 183

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PKR 363

$1.28 PKR 355

2.34%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.20 PKR 334

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.21 PKR 1,726

$6.07 PKR 1,687

2.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 904

$3.37 PKR 937

-3.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.43 PKR 1,230

$4.35 PKR 1,209

1.84%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 PKR 268

$1.04 PKR 289

-7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.84 PKR 234

-19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.56 PKR 156

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.41 PKR 115

-19.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.57 PKR 158

-8.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.31 PKR 85.4

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.41 PKR 113

-2.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.44 PKR 401

$2.00 PKR 555

-28.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.93 PKR 258

6.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 PKR 640

$2.04 PKR 567

13.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 547

$2.14 PKR 595

-7.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.0

$0.17 PKR 46.51

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.87 PKR 1,908

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-4.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.85 PKR 236

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.43 PKR 120

-6.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 PKR 839

$2.79 PKR 775

8.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.98 PKR 271

-2.04%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-14.58%

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

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-12.77%

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

$101 PKR 27.9K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-11.57%

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

$4.03 PKR 1,120

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-25.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.28 PKR 4,521

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-12.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.59 PKR 3,496

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-43.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,637

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-3.59%

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 PKR 1,004

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-12.80%

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

$40.32 PKR 11.2K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-33.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$964 PKR 267.8K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-64.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.51 PKR 3,197

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-45.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.69 PKR 5,189

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-32.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

2.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.10 PKR 8,081

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-61.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.0 PKR 14.4K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.6K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-67.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-65.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$920 PKR 255.5K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-39.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$553 PKR 153.6K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-14.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Jaranwala versus $199 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 $100 – 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 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $615 per month in Jaranwala and $801 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 5% 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 $410 in Jaranwala and $534 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.