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 $332 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $512 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $692 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mandi Bahauddin is about 39% 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 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.87 PKR 801

-37.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.58 PKR 2,393

$14.22 PKR 3,963

-39.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.52 PKR 982

$5.23 PKR 1,459

-32.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PKR 772

$1.74 PKR 486

59.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 PKR 1,340

$3.82 PKR 1,066

25.92%

Cappuccino

$1.08 PKR 300

$2.05 PKR 573

-47.32%

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

$0.33 PKR 93.3

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.22 PKR 61.2

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.96 PKR 267

-22.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.61 PKR 171

-34.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PKR 365

$1.27 PKR 355

3.15%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 333

$1.21 PKR 337

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.13 PKR 1,708

$6.17 PKR 1,720

-0.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 742

$3.49 PKR 973

-23.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.22 PKR 897

$4.39 PKR 1,225

-26.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.03 PKR 288

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.82 PKR 230

-32.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.94 PKR 263

-34.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.56 PKR 155

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 96.1

$0.38 PKR 106

-10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.53 PKR 147

-3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.33 PKR 92.5

78.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.37 PKR 104

8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 396

$1.96 PKR 547

-27.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.92 PKR 255

-21.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 PKR 528

$2.07 PKR 578

-8.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.17 PKR 46.57

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,922

$6.98 PKR 1,945

-1.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 290

$0.92 PKR 255

13.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.41 PKR 113

19.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 489

$2.75 PKR 767

-36.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 269

$0.98 PKR 274

-2.04%

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

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

4.93%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-18.41%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-48.42%

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

$3.88 PKR 1,080

$5.52 PKR 1,538

-29.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.68 PKR 3,536

$18.67 PKR 5,203

-32.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.29 PKR 3,425

$22.27 PKR 6,207

-44.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.07 PKR 1,692

$5.85 PKR 1,630

3.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.50 PKR 977

$4.14 PKR 1,153

-15.46%

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

$28.27 PKR 7,880

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-53.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,140 PKR 317.7K

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

-59.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.53 PKR 4,607

$21.34 PKR 5,948

-22.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.66 PKR 6,038

$28.33 PKR 7,898

-23.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 PKR 16.7K

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

-33.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.71 PKR 7,167

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-37.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.1 PKR 21.2K

$200 PKR 55.7K

-61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-53.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 46.1K

$513 PKR 143.0K

-67.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.8K

$288 PKR 80.4K

-62.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$893 PKR 248.9K

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

-41.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$524 PKR 146.0K

$740 PKR 206.3K

-29.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.1 in Mandi Bahauddin versus $200 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: $86.0 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 64%, 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 $498 per month in Mandi Bahauddin and $814 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 $332 in Mandi Bahauddin and $543 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.