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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $324 per month in Jhelum vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $510 per month in Jhelum vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $696 per month in Jhelum vs $1,160 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 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.85 PKR 791

-39.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.43 PKR 2,895

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-26.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-33.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 PKR 800

$1.72 PKR 477

67.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 PKR 1,303

$3.82 PKR 1,061

22.77%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 417

$1.97 PKR 547

-23.86%

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

$0.31 PKR 86.0

$0.40 PKR 110

-22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.96 PKR 268

-36.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.66 PKR 183

-10.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.28 PKR 355

0.78%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.20 PKR 334

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 PKR 1,431

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 PKR 679

$3.37 PKR 937

-27.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 848

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-29.89%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.04 PKR 289

-5.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.84 PKR 234

-30.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.91 PKR 253

-31.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.56 PKR 156

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.41 PKR 115

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.57 PKR 158

-5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.31 PKR 85.4

-35.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.41 PKR 113

-41.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 263

$2.00 PKR 555

-52.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$0.93 PKR 258

-26.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 570

$2.04 PKR 567

0.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.85 PKR 235

$2.14 PKR 595

-60.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.33

$0.17 PKR 46.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.16 PKR 1,988

$7.22 PKR 2,006

-0.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 302

$0.85 PKR 236

28.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.43 PKR 120

13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 482

$2.79 PKR 775

-37.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.98 PKR 271

-1.02%

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

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

3.72%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-17.53%

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

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-54.10%

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

$2.79 PKR 775

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-48.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.93 PKR 3,591

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-30.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.36 PKR 3,433

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-44.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,637

$6.12 PKR 1,699

-3.59%

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 PKR 958

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-16.67%

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

$17.80 PKR 4,942

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-70.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,152 PKR 319.8K

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

-58.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.09 PKR 4,469

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-23.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,145

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-19.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-31.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.89 PKR 7,189

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-36.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-62.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-53.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-67.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-65.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$899 PKR 249.7K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-40.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$543 PKR 150.7K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-16.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.5 in Jhelum versus $199 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: $78.0 vs $100 – 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 65%, 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 $801 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 27% 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 $324 in Jhelum and $534 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.