Cost of Living Comparison Between Karak and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Karak and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $428 per month in Karak vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $625 per month in Karak vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $822 per month in Karak vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Karak is about 27% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karak and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Karak 69% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$0.75 PKR 207

$3.57 PKR 989

-78.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.31 PKR 2,027

$22.74 PKR 6,305

-67.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$5.47 PKR 1,516

0.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 PKR 207

$3.55 PKR 985

-78.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 PKR 1,879

$6.71 PKR 1,861

1.04%

Cappuccino

$0.56 PKR 155

$2.39 PKR 663

-76.57%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.9

$0.32 PKR 90.0

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.7

$0.22 PKR 60.8

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.99 PKR 275

-5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.79 PKR 219

-27.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 302

$1.28 PKR 354

-14.84%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.28 PKR 356

-13.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.77 PKR 490

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-71.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.87 PKR 795

$3.06 PKR 848

-6.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,205

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-15.04%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.34 PKR 371

-48.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.84 PKR 232

-38.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 PKR 203

$1.02 PKR 282

-28.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.49 PKR 135

-2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.6

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.16 PKR 43.33

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-44.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.38 PKR 106

-31.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.85 PKR 512

$1.90 PKR 528

-2.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 PKR 368

$1.38 PKR 383

-3.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PKR 676

$2.35 PKR 651

3.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 PKR 638

$2.28 PKR 632

0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.06

$0.16 PKR 44.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.59 PKR 2,383

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-59.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.27 PKR 353

0.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.69 PKR 191

5.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 PKR 437

$1.65 PKR 458

-4.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.32 PKR 365

-5.30%

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

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-59.47%

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

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

1.75%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$102 PKR 28.3K

0.85%

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

$5.81 PKR 1,611

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.19 PKR 4,489

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.60 PKR 4,601

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-42.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 PKR 1,326

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-4.59%

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

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

0.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$996 PKR 276.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.90 PKR 6,626

$23.55 PKR 6,528

1.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.81 PKR 8,819

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-2.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 PKR 22.7K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-2.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.51 PKR 11.0K

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 35.9K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-53.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.3 PKR 23.4K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 PKR 79.0K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-50.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 PKR 43.0K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-41.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$804 PKR 222.9K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-50.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$585 PKR 162.2K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-29.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Karak: August 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Karak 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 $7.00 in Karak versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $74.0 vs $103 – making Karak 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

Karak vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $642 per month in Karak 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 Karak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $7.00 in Karak and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $428 in Karak and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Karak – 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 Karak. 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.