🙂A single person spends $334 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $524 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $715 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $1,166 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 Bahauddin75% lower, Islamabad60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79PKR 497
$2.89PKR 804
-38.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.63PKR 2,399
$14.01PKR 3,894
-38.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.51PKR 975
$5.35PKR 1,487
-34.39%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79PKR 776
$1.75PKR 487
59.43%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90PKR 1,363
$3.97PKR 1,105
23.43%
Cappuccino
$1.03PKR 287
$2.02PKR 561
-49.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 86.0
$0.39PKR 110
-20.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.0
$0.22PKR 61.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73PKR 202
$1.02PKR 284
-28.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43PKR 121
$0.66PKR 184
-34.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31PKR 365
$1.27PKR 353
3.15%
Eggs
$1.16PKR 322
$1.23PKR 341
-5.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09PKR 1,693
$6.02PKR 1,675
1.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.58PKR 716
$3.41PKR 948
-24.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.18PKR 884
$4.53PKR 1,260
-29.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 288
$1.03PKR 288
0.97%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58PKR 162
$0.84PKR 233
-30.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.65PKR 182
$0.90PKR 251
-27.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.55PKR 153
3.64%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 96.2
$0.38PKR 106
-7.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 142
$0.56PKR 156
-8.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63PKR 176
$0.30PKR 84.6
110.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.41PKR 113
-2.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.94PKR 262
$1.99PKR 553
-52.76%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73PKR 204
$0.93PKR 257
-21.51%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04PKR 566
$2.01PKR 560
1.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89PKR 525
$2.15PKR 598
-12.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.4
$0.19PKR 52.8
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.91PKR 1,922
$6.95PKR 1,933
-0.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04PKR 289
$0.85PKR 236
22.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49PKR 137
$0.41PKR 113
19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.81PKR 503
$2.81PKR 781
-35.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99PKR 276
$0.95PKR 264
4.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KPKR 6.0M
$21.2KPKR 5.9M
2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
$26.0KPKR 7.2M
-19.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.5PKR 16.3K
$112PKR 31.1K
-47.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.86PKR 1,074
$5.36PKR 1,492
-27.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.08PKR 3,636
$18.59PKR 5,168
-29.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.43PKR 3,457
$22.15PKR 6,158
-43.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.08PKR 1,691
$5.89PKR 1,638
3.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60PKR 1,000
$4.34PKR 1,206
-17.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$28.03PKR 7,794
$59.4PKR 16.5K
-52.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,143PKR 317.8K
$2,783PKR 773.8K
-58.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.32PKR 4,537
$21.12PKR 5,873
-22.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.18PKR 6,167
$27.99PKR 7,782
-20.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1PKR 16.4K
$87.7PKR 24.4K
-32.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.09PKR 7,254
$39.46PKR 11.0K
-33.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$73.9PKR 20.5K
$201PKR 56.0K
-63.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.9PKR 14.4K
$112PKR 31.0K
-53.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167PKR 46.4K
$515PKR 143.2K
-67.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 30.0K
$298PKR 82.9K
-63.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$923PKR 256.7K
$1,567PKR 435.8K
-41.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$496PKR 138.0K
$646PKR 179.6K
-23.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$378PKR 105.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
20.2
-10.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $73.9 in Mandi Bahauddin versus $201 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 $100 – 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
Is Islamabad cheaper than Mandi Bahauddin?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $501 per month in Mandi Bahauddin and $799 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Mandi Bahauddin and Islamabad?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Mandi Bahauddin or Islamabad?
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.
Is $800 enough for either Mandi Bahauddin or Islamabad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $334 in Mandi Bahauddin and $533 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Mandi Bahauddin or Islamabad more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Mandi Bahauddin or Islamabad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.
Mandi Bahauddin vs other spots: cost of living compared