Cost of Living Comparison Between Larkana and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Larkana and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $398 per month in Larkana vs $535 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $587 per month in Larkana vs $833 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $776 per month in Larkana vs $1,131 in Islamabad, rent included.

Larkana is about 26% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Larkana and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Larkana 70% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.81 PKR 781

-38.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.81 PKR 3,001

$14.13 PKR 3,923

-23.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 PKR 1,169

$5.44 PKR 1,510

-22.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.80 PKR 498

-3.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 PKR 997

$3.94 PKR 1,094

-8.88%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 416

$2.04 PKR 567

-26.47%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.1

$0.39 PKR 108

-17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.24 PKR 66.7

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 215

$0.95 PKR 263

-18.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.66 PKR 182

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 321

$1.27 PKR 354

-8.66%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.26 PKR 350

-7.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.85 PKR 1,625

$6.14 PKR 1,704

-4.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 PKR 732

$3.55 PKR 984

-25.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 PKR 1,012

$4.52 PKR 1,254

-19.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 279

$1.05 PKR 291

-3.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.80 PKR 222

-17.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.91 PKR 252

-31.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.59 PKR 165

-11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.42 PKR 116

-9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.53 PKR 149

-3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.31 PKR 85.7

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.40 PKR 112

-15.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.61 PKR 446

$1.95 PKR 541

-17.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.90 PKR 251

3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 542

$2.03 PKR 565

-3.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.16 PKR 601

-7.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.09

$0.18 PKR 49.97

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.99 PKR 1,941

$7.20 PKR 1,998

-2.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.92 PKR 255

-6.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.43 PKR 120

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.78 PKR 772

-37.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 274

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

0.41%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-12.27%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-10.63%

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

$4.18 PKR 1,160

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-23.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.99 PKR 3,884

$18.79 PKR 5,216

-25.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.20 PKR 3,388

$22.78 PKR 6,325

-46.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,623

$6.05 PKR 1,680

-3.31%

Cinema Ticket

$3.59 PKR 996

$4.35 PKR 1,208

-17.47%

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

$29.76 PKR 8,264

$59.5 PKR 16.5K

-49.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,096 PKR 304.4K

$2,754 PKR 764.7K

-60.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.31 PKR 4,252

$21.76 PKR 6,041

-29.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.43 PKR 6,226

$28.27 PKR 7,850

-20.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$86.7 PKR 24.1K

-20.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.86 PKR 8,014

$40.56 PKR 11.3K

-28.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$201 PKR 55.7K

-62.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-52.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 PKR 47.1K

$508 PKR 141.0K

-66.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$296 PKR 82.1K

-63.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$919 PKR 255.2K

$1,557 PKR 432.3K

-40.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$496 PKR 137.6K

$656 PKR 182.0K

-24.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-5.94%

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

Last update for Larkana: July 21, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.7 in Larkana versus $201 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 Larkana versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $101 – making Larkana 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

Larkana vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 34%, 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 $597 per month in Larkana and $802 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% 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 Larkana 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 $398 in Larkana and $535 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Larkana – 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 Larkana. 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.