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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $337 per month in Layyah vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $522 per month in Layyah vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $708 per month in Layyah vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Layyah is about 36% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Layyah and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Layyah 75% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.80 PKR 779

-35.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.80 PKR 3,004

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-24.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.49 PKR 972

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-35.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PKR 771

$1.72 PKR 478

61.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 PKR 1,331

$4.00 PKR 1,112

19.75%

Cappuccino

$1.45 PKR 402

$2.00 PKR 557

-27.50%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.43 PKR 119

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.9

$0.22 PKR 61.1

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.94 PKR 260

-48.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.62 PKR 173

-45.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.21 PKR 338

3.31%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 301

$1.20 PKR 335

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 PKR 1,645

$6.07 PKR 1,689

-2.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.35 PKR 653

$3.39 PKR 942

-30.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 842

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-30.82%

Apples (1kg)

$0.72 PKR 201

$1.03 PKR 287

-30.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.78 PKR 216

-53.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.93 PKR 260

-27.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.60 PKR 166

-18.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.4

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.54 PKR 149

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 177

$0.34 PKR 93.3

85.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.8

$0.37 PKR 103

-8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.93 PKR 537

-46.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.90 PKR 251

-22.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 561

$1.99 PKR 552

1.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.14 PKR 596

-11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.4

$0.19 PKR 52.2

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,962

$6.90 PKR 1,921

2.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 302

$0.86 PKR 238

26.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.44 PKR 122

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 498

$2.81 PKR 782

-36.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.91 PKR 253

6.59%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

4.40%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-18.24%

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

$57.9 PKR 16.1K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-48.22%

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

$3.64 PKR 1,012

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-33.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.77 PKR 3,553

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-32.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.53 PKR 3,485

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-43.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,674

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-0.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 PKR 997

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-14.96%

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

$17.43 PKR 4,848

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-71.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$523 PKR 145.6K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-81.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.06 PKR 4,468

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-25.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.05 PKR 6,134

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-20.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-31.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.05 PKR 7,248

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-34.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-61.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.4K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-67.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-64.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$874 PKR 243.1K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-43.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$500 PKR 139.1K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-23.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.8 in Layyah 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 Layyah versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $76.0 vs $98.0 – 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 57%, 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 $505 per month in Layyah 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 Layyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $337 in Layyah and $529 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.