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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $373 per month in Jhang vs $532 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $585 per month in Jhang vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $797 per month in Jhang vs $1,136 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jhang is about 30% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jhang and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Jhang 72% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 503

$2.89 PKR 803

-37.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.17 PKR 3,934

$14.11 PKR 3,916

0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.46 PKR 959

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-36.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 PKR 780

$1.76 PKR 488

59.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-4.22%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PKR 636

$1.98 PKR 550

15.66%

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

$0.32 PKR 89.9

$0.39 PKR 108

-17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.22 PKR 60.8

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 PKR 160

$1.02 PKR 284

-44.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.62 PKR 172

-1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.22 PKR 338

-11.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 PKR 1,650

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-1.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 PKR 824

$3.37 PKR 936

-11.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.50 PKR 1,248

$4.47 PKR 1,239

0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 293

$1.00 PKR 278

6.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.84 PKR 233

-23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.93 PKR 259

-39.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.57 PKR 157

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.0

$0.41 PKR 115

-12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.58 PKR 160

-15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.33 PKR 91.8

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.37 PKR 104

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 294

$1.90 PKR 528

-44.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.85 PKR 236

-40.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

$1.96 PKR 543

-43.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.78 PKR 217

$2.10 PKR 584

-62.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 56.9

$0.16 PKR 43.35

31.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.13 PKR 1,978

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-0.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.84 PKR 233

-17.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.44 PKR 122

20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 499

$2.87 PKR 796

-37.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.93 PKR 257

-9.68%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-14.85%

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

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-11.48%

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

$71.2 PKR 19.7K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-37.03%

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

$3.87 PKR 1,073

$5.39 PKR 1,495

-28.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.76 PKR 2,986

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-42.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.32 PKR 3,419

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-45.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.08 PKR 1,688

$6.02 PKR 1,671

1.00%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 999

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-17.24%

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

$16.18 PKR 4,490

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-73.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,250 PKR 347.0K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-55.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.94 PKR 4,147

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-29.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.55 PKR 5,982

$28.13 PKR 7,806

-23.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.3 PKR 19.8K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-20.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.63 PKR 8,501

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-23.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

$197 PKR 54.8K

-62.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 PKR 47.2K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-66.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-64.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$873 PKR 242.4K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-44.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$485 PKR 134.5K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-25.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$146 PKR 40.6K

$387 PKR 107.5K

-62.21%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $73.7 in Jhang versus $197 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 165% 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: $89.0 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 42%, 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 $560 per month in Jhang and $798 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 $373 in Jhang and $532 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.