Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandi Bahauddin and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandi Bahauddin and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $335 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $532 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $519 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $704 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $1,136 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mandi Bahauddin is about 37% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.89 PKR 803

-39.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.92 PKR 2,475

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-36.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 PKR 953

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-36.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 PKR 797

$1.76 PKR 488

63.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 PKR 1,330

$3.79 PKR 1,051

26.39%

Cappuccino

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.98 PKR 550

-47.47%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.9

$0.39 PKR 108

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.7

$0.22 PKR 60.8

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.02 PKR 284

-31.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.62 PKR 172

-35.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.22 PKR 339

3.28%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.22 PKR 338

-1.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.00 PKR 1,664

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 PKR 748

$3.37 PKR 936

-19.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 882

$4.47 PKR 1,239

-28.86%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.00 PKR 278

-2.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.84 PKR 233

-29.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.93 PKR 259

-30.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.57 PKR 157

-7.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.41 PKR 115

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.58 PKR 160

-13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.33 PKR 91.8

90.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.37 PKR 104

13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 PKR 269

$1.90 PKR 528

-48.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.85 PKR 236

-12.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 562

$1.96 PKR 543

3.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 PKR 521

$2.10 PKR 584

-10.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.3

$0.16 PKR 43.35

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 PKR 1,990

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 299

$0.84 PKR 233

28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.44 PKR 122

20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.87 PKR 796

-36.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 276

$0.93 PKR 257

6.45%

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

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

6.35%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-20.08%

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

$58.7 PKR 16.3K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-48.02%

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

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$5.39 PKR 1,495

-29.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.95 PKR 3,594

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-30.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.48 PKR 3,465

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-45.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.08 PKR 1,687

$6.02 PKR 1,671

1.00%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-20.23%

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

$28.69 PKR 7,962

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-52.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,142 PKR 316.9K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-59.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.05 PKR 4,455

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-24.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.67 PKR 6,014

$28.13 PKR 7,806

-22.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-31.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.36 PKR 7,316

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-34.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$197 PKR 54.8K

-62.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-53.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.0K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-67.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.3K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-64.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$915 PKR 253.8K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-41.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$500 PKR 138.8K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-22.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

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 Mandi Bahauddin: July 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.9 in Mandi Bahauddin versus $197 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 $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $85.0 vs $99.0 – making Mandi Bahauddin 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

Mandi Bahauddin vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 59%, 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 $502 per month in Mandi Bahauddin and $798 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin and $14.00 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 $335 in Mandi Bahauddin and $532 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mandi Bahauddin – 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 Mandi Bahauddin. 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.