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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $392 per month in Jhelum vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $596 per month in Jhelum vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $800 per month in Jhelum vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Jhelum is about 34% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jhelum and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Jhelum 72% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 495

$3.57 PKR 989

-49.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.81 PKR 2,995

$22.74 PKR 6,303

-52.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$5.47 PKR 1,515

-3.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 PKR 704

$3.55 PKR 985

-28.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PKR 615

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-66.92%

Cappuccino

$1.52 PKR 421

$2.39 PKR 663

-36.40%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.32 PKR 89.9

34.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 81.8

$0.22 PKR 60.8

36.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.99 PKR 275

-35.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.79 PKR 219

-22.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.28 PKR 354

-3.91%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.28 PKR 356

-4.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 713

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-57.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.32 PKR 643

$3.06 PKR 848

-24.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.72 PKR 754

$5.12 PKR 1,419

-46.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 302

$1.34 PKR 371

-18.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.6

$0.84 PKR 232

-58.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$1.02 PKR 282

-47.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.49 PKR 135

-4.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.9

$0.29 PKR 81.1

6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.7

$0.33 PKR 90.3

6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.29 PKR 80.7

72.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.38 PKR 106

10.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.90 PKR 528

-4.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.38 PKR 383

-60.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PKR 753

$2.35 PKR 651

15.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 PKR 645

$2.28 PKR 632

2.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.47

$0.16 PKR 44.27

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.75 PKR 2,424

$21.23 PKR 5,884

-58.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$1.27 PKR 353

-13.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.69 PKR 191

52.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 PKR 781

$1.65 PKR 458

70.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.32 PKR 365

-15.15%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-57.18%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-8.98%

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

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

$102 PKR 28.3K

-34.55%

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

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-4.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.61 PKR 4,049

$16.34 PKR 4,530

-10.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.94 PKR 3,586

$29.09 PKR 8,064

-55.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,476

Cinema Ticket

$7.25 PKR 2,008

$5.01 PKR 1,389

44.71%

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

$26.69 PKR 7,397

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-64.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,005 PKR 555.6K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-60.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.80 PKR 5,210

$23.55 PKR 6,527

-20.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.60 PKR 7,373

$32.68 PKR 9,058

-18.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 PKR 15.0K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-35.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.28 PKR 8,392

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-22.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.3K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-57.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.7 PKR 22.1K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-44.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 PKR 67.3K

$577 PKR 159.9K

-57.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 PKR 42.1K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-42.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$991 PKR 274.5K

$1,635 PKR 453.1K

-39.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 PKR 148.1K

$829 PKR 229.9K

-35.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

13.08

-9.56%

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

Last update for Jhelum: September 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Jhelum versus $277 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 $11.00 in Jhelum versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $70.0 vs $103 – 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 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $587 per month in Jhelum and $884 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 46% 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 $11.00 in Jhelum and $23.00 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 $392 in Jhelum and $589 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.