Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhang and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhang and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $504 per month in Jhang vs $593 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $745 per month in Jhang vs $929 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $987 per month in Jhang vs $1,264 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jhang is about 15% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jhang and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Jhang 63% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 710

$3.56 PKR 985

-28.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.39 PKR 3,984

$23.22 PKR 6,430

-38.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 PKR 1,589

$5.44 PKR 1,507

5.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.62 PKR 1,004

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-2.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.52 PKR 1,528

$6.73 PKR 1,865

-17.98%

Cappuccino

$2.67 PKR 740

$2.51 PKR 694

6.37%

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

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.33 PKR 90.0

30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.1

$0.21 PKR 58.2

23.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.94 PKR 261

-6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.75 PKR 209

-10.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.25 PKR 347

-7.20%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 321

$1.21 PKR 335

-4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.42 PKR 1,779

$6.06 PKR 1,679

5.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 PKR 697

$3.20 PKR 886

-21.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.83 PKR 1,339

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-11.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 PKR 328

$1.25 PKR 346

-4.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.81 PKR 224

-14.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 248

$1.03 PKR 286

-12.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.52 PKR 145

26.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 76.5

$0.26 PKR 71.2

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.2

$0.33 PKR 90.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.30 PKR 83.6

53.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.42 PKR 118

-19.05%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$2.01 PKR 556

-44.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 PKR 170

$1.24 PKR 343

-50.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 474

$2.59 PKR 718

-33.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 585

$2.32 PKR 641

-9.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.5

$0.20 PKR 55.7

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.27 PKR 2,568

$21.86 PKR 6,056

-57.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 PKR 240

$1.29 PKR 358

-32.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$1.61 PKR 445

9.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 364

$1.25 PKR 348

5.60%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.0M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-66.40%

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

$26.8K PKR 7.4M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

9.14%

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

$129 PKR 35.6K

$104 PKR 28.9K

23.11%

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

$5.11 PKR 1,416

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-13.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.53 PKR 4,580

$16.18 PKR 4,480

2.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.25 PKR 4,502

$28.70 PKR 7,950

-43.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,167

$4.37 PKR 1,210

-3.66%

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

$45.40 PKR 12.6K

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

-39.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,938 PKR 536.7K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-61.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.42 PKR 4,826

$25.08 PKR 6,946

-30.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 PKR 7,462

$35.11 PKR 9,725

-23.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 PKR 20.4K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-24.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.40 PKR 8,698

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

-21.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 PKR 36.2K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-53.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-51.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.1K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-52.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.3K

$277 PKR 76.7K

-54.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$943 PKR 261.2K

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

-41.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$494 PKR 136.9K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-39.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

13.08

9.17%

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

Last update for Jhang: September 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in Jhang versus $278 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 Jhang versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $103 – making Jhang 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

Jhang vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 18%, 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 $756 per month in Jhang and $890 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 8% 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 Jhang and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $504 in Jhang and $593 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jhang – 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 Jhang. 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.