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 $399 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $593 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $616 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $929 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $832 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $1,264 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mandi Bahauddin is about 33% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mandi Bahauddin and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mandi Bahauddin 71% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.85 PKR 512

$3.56 PKR 985

-48.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.95 PKR 2,478

$23.22 PKR 6,430

-61.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 PKR 1,235

$5.44 PKR 1,507

-18.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 PKR 716

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-30.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 PKR 605

$6.73 PKR 1,865

-67.61%

Cappuccino

$1.06 PKR 293

$2.51 PKR 694

-57.77%

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

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 90.0

36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.21 PKR 58.2

23.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.94 PKR 261

-22.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.75 PKR 209

-45.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 350

$1.25 PKR 347

1.60%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 344

$1.21 PKR 335

2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.72 PKR 2,414

$6.06 PKR 1,679

43.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 695

$3.20 PKR 886

-21.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.90 PKR 1,080

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-28.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 297

$1.25 PKR 346

-14.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.81 PKR 224

-18.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$1.03 PKR 286

-44.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.52 PKR 145

-3.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.3

$0.26 PKR 71.2

19.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.33 PKR 90.6

57.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.30 PKR 83.6

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.42 PKR 118

-7.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 PKR 144

$2.01 PKR 556

-74.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 PKR 147

$1.24 PKR 343

-57.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

$2.59 PKR 718

-72.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 PKR 653

$2.32 PKR 641

1.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.8

$0.20 PKR 55.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.36 PKR 2,869

$21.86 PKR 6,056

-52.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.29 PKR 358

-18.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 PKR 292

$0.74 PKR 205

41.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 PKR 807

$1.61 PKR 445

80.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 PKR 317

$1.25 PKR 348

-8.00%

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

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-56.24%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-6.93%

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

$66.7 PKR 18.5K

$104 PKR 28.9K

-36.14%

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

$5.57 PKR 1,543

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-5.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.72 PKR 4,078

$16.18 PKR 4,480

-9.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.51 PKR 4,019

$28.70 PKR 7,950

-49.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 PKR 2,036

$4.37 PKR 1,210

68.19%

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

$26.86 PKR 7,439

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

-64.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,988 PKR 550.7K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-60.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.84 PKR 5,218

$25.08 PKR 6,946

-24.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.73 PKR 7,404

$35.11 PKR 9,725

-23.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.8 PKR 15.2K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-43.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.36 PKR 8,131

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

-26.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.2K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-50.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.0 PKR 21.9K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-42.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 PKR 72.1K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-55.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 PKR 39.3K

$277 PKR 76.7K

-48.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$905 PKR 250.7K

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

-44.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$591 PKR 163.6K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-27.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

13.08

-9.56%

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

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: September 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Mandi Bahauddin versus $278 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $103 – 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 49%, 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 $599 per month in Mandi Bahauddin and $890 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 9% 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 $23.00 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 $399 in Mandi Bahauddin and $593 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.