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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $396 per month in Larkana vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $592 per month in Larkana vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $788 per month in Larkana vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Larkana is about 25% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Larkana and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Larkana 70% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 497

$2.80 PKR 779

-36.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.69 PKR 2,975

$14.22 PKR 3,956

-24.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.22 PKR 1,174

$5.44 PKR 1,513

-22.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.72 PKR 478

1.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 971

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-12.75%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 418

$2.00 PKR 558

-25.00%

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

$0.35 PKR 96.0

$0.43 PKR 119

-18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.3

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 212

$0.94 PKR 260

-19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.62 PKR 173

-3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.21 PKR 338

-4.13%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.20 PKR 335

-2.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 PKR 1,656

$6.07 PKR 1,690

-1.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 PKR 735

$3.39 PKR 942

-22.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 PKR 999

$4.38 PKR 1,219

-18.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$1.03 PKR 287

-2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.78 PKR 216

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.93 PKR 260

-34.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.60 PKR 166

-18.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.3

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.54 PKR 149

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.5

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.37 PKR 103

-8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.37 PKR 381

$1.93 PKR 538

-29.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 238

$0.90 PKR 251

-5.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.99 PKR 553

-1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.14 PKR 596

-11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 48.37

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,925

$6.90 PKR 1,921

0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.86 PKR 239

5.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.44 PKR 122

-2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.81 PKR 782

-35.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.91 PKR 254

1.10%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-1.30%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-13.98%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-8.13%

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

$3.94 PKR 1,098

$5.44 PKR 1,513

-27.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.48 PKR 3,752

$18.81 PKR 5,235

-28.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.21 PKR 3,397

$22.19 PKR 6,176

-44.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 PKR 1,620

$6.04 PKR 1,680

-3.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.53 PKR 982

$4.21 PKR 1,172

-16.15%

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

$29.96 PKR 8,336

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-50.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,093 PKR 304.1K

$2,805 PKR 780.4K

-61.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.35 PKR 4,271

$21.57 PKR 6,001

-28.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.27 PKR 6,196

$27.63 PKR 7,688

-19.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.5 PKR 19.3K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-21.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.10 PKR 8,097

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-27.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.4 PKR 21.0K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-52.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.5K

$513 PKR 142.7K

-67.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$296 PKR 82.4K

-64.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$996 PKR 277.1K

$1,551 PKR 431.6K

-35.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 144.8K

$657 PKR 183.0K

-20.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.4 in Larkana versus $198 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 $98.0 – 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 Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $593 per month in Larkana and $794 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 14% 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 $396 in Larkana and $529 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.