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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $368 per month in Jhang vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $584 per month in Jhang vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $800 per month in Jhang vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jhang is about 32% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jhang and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Jhang 72% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 486

$2.87 PKR 801

-39.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.28 PKR 3,981

$14.22 PKR 3,963

0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.48 PKR 969

$5.23 PKR 1,459

-33.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 776

$1.74 PKR 486

59.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 PKR 1,038

$3.82 PKR 1,066

-2.62%

Cappuccino

$2.30 PKR 640

$2.05 PKR 573

12.20%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.1

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.2

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.96 PKR 267

-39.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.61 PKR 171

1.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.27 PKR 355

-3.94%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 301

$1.21 PKR 337

-10.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 PKR 1,641

$6.17 PKR 1,720

-4.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 PKR 858

$3.49 PKR 973

-11.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.59 PKR 1,279

$4.39 PKR 1,225

4.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.03 PKR 288

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.82 PKR 230

-26.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.94 PKR 263

-36.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.56 PKR 155

-19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.38 PKR 106

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.53 PKR 147

-9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.33 PKR 92.5

45.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.37 PKR 104

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.70 PKR 195

$1.96 PKR 547

-64.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.92 PKR 255

-44.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.98 PKR 552

-43.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.83 PKR 231

$2.07 PKR 578

-59.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 48.20

$0.17 PKR 46.57

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 PKR 1,997

$6.98 PKR 1,945

2.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 193

$0.92 PKR 255

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.41 PKR 113

29.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$2.75 PKR 767

-36.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 229

$0.98 PKR 274

-16.33%

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

$17.3K PKR 4.8M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-18.56%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-12.59%

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

$70.9 PKR 19.8K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-36.42%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,112

$5.52 PKR 1,538

-27.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.42 PKR 2,904

$18.67 PKR 5,203

-44.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.36 PKR 3,445

$22.27 PKR 6,207

-44.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.99 PKR 1,670

$5.85 PKR 1,630

2.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.65 PKR 1,016

$4.14 PKR 1,153

-11.84%

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

$15.82 PKR 4,409

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-74.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,230 PKR 342.9K

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

-55.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.43 PKR 4,302

$21.34 PKR 5,948

-27.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.52 PKR 6,000

$28.33 PKR 7,898

-24.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

-17.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.07 PKR 8,383

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-26.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.0 PKR 21.2K

$200 PKR 55.7K

-61.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.8 PKR 14.7K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-52.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.5K

$513 PKR 143.0K

-67.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.8K

$288 PKR 80.4K

-62.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$798 PKR 222.5K

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

-47.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$581 PKR 161.9K

$740 PKR 206.3K

-21.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$144 PKR 40.1K

$307 PKR 85.7K

-53.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-10.89%

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

Last update for Jhang: April 25, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.0 in Jhang versus $200 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 113% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jhang versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $90.0 vs $99.0 – 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 47%, 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 $553 per month in Jhang and $814 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 11% 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 $14.00 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 $368 in Jhang and $543 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.