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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $370 per month in Jhang vs $537 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $581 per month in Jhang vs $845 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $791 per month in Jhang vs $1,154 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jhang is about 31% 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

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.76 PKR 769

-37.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.36 PKR 3,993

$14.32 PKR 3,980

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.49 PKR 970

$5.23 PKR 1,454

-33.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PKR 769

$1.75 PKR 488

58.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 PKR 1,011

$3.94 PKR 1,096

-7.61%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.08 PKR 578

14.90%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.0

$0.40 PKR 111

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 PKR 160

$1.00 PKR 277

-43.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.63 PKR 174

-7.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.26 PKR 351

-4.76%

Eggs

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.26 PKR 351

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.13 PKR 1,705

$6.28 PKR 1,747

-2.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 852

$3.39 PKR 942

-9.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,222

$4.34 PKR 1,206

1.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.84 PKR 233

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.90 PKR 249

-35.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.60 PKR 165

-21.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.39 PKR 108

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.54 PKR 150

-3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.31 PKR 86.2

51.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.41 PKR 113

-17.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.89 PKR 246

$2.00 PKR 555

-55.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.93 PKR 259

-45.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.96 PKR 545

-44.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.80 PKR 221

$2.06 PKR 573

-61.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.5

$0.16 PKR 43.81

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.21 PKR 2,004

$7.05 PKR 1,960

2.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.90 PKR 251

-17.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.40 PKR 111

32.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 498

$2.85 PKR 793

-37.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 246

$0.98 PKR 273

-10.20%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

-14.88%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-11.70%

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

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

$112 PKR 31.2K

-37.87%

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

$4.01 PKR 1,114

$5.37 PKR 1,492

-25.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.57 PKR 2,940

$18.53 PKR 5,152

-42.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,459

$22.84 PKR 6,351

-45.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 PKR 1,684

$6.01 PKR 1,670

0.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 PKR 1,003

$4.17 PKR 1,158

-13.43%

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

$16.19 PKR 4,500

$59.2 PKR 16.5K

-72.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,243 PKR 345.5K

$2,812 PKR 781.8K

-55.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.94 PKR 4,153

$21.16 PKR 5,883

-29.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.13 PKR 5,876

$28.15 PKR 7,827

-24.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 PKR 20.4K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-18.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.59 PKR 8,506

$39.45 PKR 11.0K

-22.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

$197 PKR 54.7K

-62.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.5K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$515 PKR 143.1K

-67.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-64.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$874 PKR 242.9K

$1,513 PKR 420.5K

-42.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$479 PKR 133.2K

$637 PKR 177.2K

-24.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$142 PKR 39.3K

$382 PKR 106.2K

-62.95%

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $73.9 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 170% 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 $100 – 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 45%, 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 $555 per month in Jhang and $805 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 13% 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 $370 in Jhang and $537 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.