Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabul and Ishkashim Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabul and Ishkashim

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $416 in Kabul versus $182 in Ishkashim.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $602 in Kabul versus $321 in Ishkashim.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $787 in Kabul versus $460 in Ishkashim.

Living in Kabul is roughly 128% more expensive than Ishkashim, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kabul 69% lower, Ishkashim 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.53 ؋161

$3.61 ؋229

-29.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.74 ؋682

$6.98 ؋443

53.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.37 ؋278

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ؋143

$3.64 ؋231

-38.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ؋107

$2.91 ؋185

-42.27%

Cappuccino

$1.01 ؋64.0

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

$0.36 ؋22.93

$0.45 ؋28.47

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ؋8.10

$0.14 ؋9.02

-7.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 ؋44.85

$0.84 ؋53.5

-15.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 ؋13.14

$0.30 ؋19.11

-30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 ؋108

$1.48 ؋93.9

14.86%

Eggs

$1.42 ؋90.0

$1.76 ؋112

-19.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 ؋244

$2.89 ؋184

32.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 ؋213

$5.10 ؋324

-34.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.00 ؋381

$5.87 ؋373

2.21%

Apples (1kg)

$0.53 ؋33.75

$0.81 ؋51.3

-34.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ؋50.8

$1.02 ؋65.1

-21.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 ؋47.84

$1.03 ؋65.5

-27.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 ؋29.36

$1.14 ؋72.2

-59.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ؋30.44

$0.34 ؋21.82

41.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ؋26.99

$0.37 ؋23.52

16.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 ؋14.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ؋20.72

$0.56 ؋35.37

-41.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.97 ؋125

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ؋59.5

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ؋93.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 ؋168

$0.68 ؋43.47

288.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ؋13.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.87 ؋627

$14.18 ؋901

-30.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 ؋112

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 ؋35.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ؋164

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 ؋60.1

$1.40 ؋89.0

-32.14%

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

$7,763 ؋493.0K

$8,795 ؋558.5K

-11.73%

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

$32.1K ؋2.0M

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

$50.3 ؋3,196

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

$13.77 ؋874

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.6 ؋5,819

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.06 ؋575

$7.18 ؋456

26.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.88 ؋247

Cinema Ticket

$2.21 ؋140

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

$18.18 ؋1,155

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,414 ؋89.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.57 ؋608

$25.48 ؋1,618

-62.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 ؋1,108

$29.05 ؋1,845

-39.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.79 ؋2,082

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.41 ؋1,804

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 ؋5,398

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.5 ؋3,715

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 ؋12.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 ؋7,037

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$732 ؋46.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$410 ؋26.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$351 ؋22.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

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

Last update for Kabul: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ishkashim: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $11.00 in Kabul vs $7.00 in Ishkashim. Groceries flip the comparison at $88.0 vs $105, with Kabul cheaper for home cooking.

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

Kabul vs Ishkashim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ishkashim wins on cost – living expenses run 128% lower than in Kabul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ishkashim the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $624 in Kabul and $273 in Ishkashim to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Ishkashim – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $11.00 in Kabul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Ishkashim runs roughly 44% less than in Kabul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ishkashim gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Ishkashim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Kabul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.