Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $325 per month in Jhelum vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $512 per month in Jhelum vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $700 per month in Jhelum vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jhelum is about 39% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jhelum and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Jhelum 76% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.80 PKR 779

-36.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.47 PKR 2,911

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-26.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-34.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 806

$1.72 PKR 478

68.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 PKR 1,363

$4.00 PKR 1,112

22.50%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 419

$2.00 PKR 557

-24.50%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.9

$0.43 PKR 119

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.22 PKR 61.1

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.94 PKR 260

-40.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.62 PKR 173

-4.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.21 PKR 338

4.13%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.20 PKR 335

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,408

$6.07 PKR 1,689

-16.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 662

$3.39 PKR 942

-29.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 854

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-29.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.78 PKR 216

-30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.93 PKR 260

-32.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.60 PKR 166

-15.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.9

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.54 PKR 149

1.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.19 PKR 51.5

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-44.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.37 PKR 103

-40.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 PKR 282

$1.93 PKR 537

-47.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.90 PKR 251

-18.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.99 PKR 552

-0.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.84 PKR 235

$2.14 PKR 596

-60.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.0

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,924

$6.90 PKR 1,920

0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 299

$0.86 PKR 238

24.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.44 PKR 122

20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.81 PKR 782

-36.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.91 PKR 253

6.59%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

3.30%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-20.34%

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

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-52.64%

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

$2.87 PKR 799

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-47.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.02 PKR 3,623

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-30.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,500

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-43.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,628

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-3.15%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 PKR 957

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-18.29%

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

$17.79 PKR 4,950

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-70.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,111 PKR 309.1K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-60.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,498

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-25.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 PKR 6,210

$27.63 PKR 7,685

-19.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-32.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.22 PKR 7,294

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-34.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.5 PKR 20.7K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-62.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.5K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-68.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-63.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$851 PKR 236.6K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-45.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$454 PKR 126.3K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-30.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

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 Jhelum: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.5 in Jhelum versus $198 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 $10.00 in Jhelum versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $76.0 vs $98.0 – making Jhelum 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

Jhelum vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 63%, 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 $487 per month in Jhelum and $794 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $10.00 in Jhelum 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 $325 in Jhelum and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Jhelum – 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 Jhelum. 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.