Cost of Living Comparison Between Layyah and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Layyah and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $332 per month in Layyah vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $511 per month in Layyah vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $690 per month in Layyah vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Layyah is about 38% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Layyah and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Layyah 75% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.85 PKR 791

-36.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.69 PKR 2,968

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-25.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.49 PKR 968

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-35.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 PKR 778

$1.72 PKR 477

62.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 PKR 1,320

$3.82 PKR 1,061

24.35%

Cappuccino

$1.52 PKR 423

$1.97 PKR 547

-22.84%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.3

$0.40 PKR 110

-22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.0

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.96 PKR 268

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 PKR 93.7

$0.66 PKR 183

-48.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.28 PKR 355

-5.47%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.20 PKR 334

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 PKR 1,641

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-2.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 PKR 655

$3.37 PKR 937

-29.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-30.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.04 PKR 289

-33.65%

Banana (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.3

$0.84 PKR 234

-59.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.91 PKR 253

-26.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.56 PKR 156

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.8

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 151

$0.57 PKR 158

-3.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.31 PKR 85.4

90.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.6

$0.41 PKR 113

-17.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 PKR 279

$2.00 PKR 555

-49.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.93 PKR 258

-20.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 561

$2.04 PKR 567

-0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.14 PKR 595

-11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.42

$0.17 PKR 46.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,918

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-4.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.85 PKR 236

28.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.43 PKR 120

-6.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 506

$2.79 PKR 775

-34.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.98 PKR 271

-1.02%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

6.38%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-17.62%

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

$58.9 PKR 16.3K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-48.24%

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

$3.65 PKR 1,012

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-32.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.69 PKR 3,524

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-32.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,453

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-43.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 PKR 1,667

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-1.96%

Cinema Ticket

$3.46 PKR 961

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-16.43%

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

$17.34 PKR 4,814

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-71.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$532 PKR 147.7K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-80.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.46 PKR 4,570

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-21.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.37 PKR 6,211

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-19.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-32.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.89 PKR 7,188

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-36.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.7 PKR 21.0K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-61.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-53.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 PKR 47.1K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-66.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-64.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$777 PKR 215.7K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-48.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$455 PKR 126.2K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-29.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-10.89%

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

Last update for Layyah: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.7 in Layyah versus $199 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 Layyah versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $75.0 vs $100 – making Layyah 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

Layyah vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 61%, 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 $497 per month in Layyah and $801 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 33% 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 Layyah 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 $332 in Layyah and $534 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Layyah – 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 Layyah. 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.