🙂A single person spends $333 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $537 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $511 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $845 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $690 per month in Mandi Bahauddin vs $1,154 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂Mandi Bahauddin is about 38% 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
$1.76PKR 489
$2.76PKR 769
-36.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.78PKR 2,441
$14.32PKR 3,980
-38.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.50PKR 974
$5.23PKR 1,454
-33.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.90PKR 807
$1.75PKR 488
65.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90PKR 1,362
$3.94PKR 1,096
24.37%
Cappuccino
$1.09PKR 303
$2.08PKR 578
-47.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 85.4
$0.40PKR 111
-22.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 66.9
$0.24PKR 67.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69PKR 193
$1.00PKR 277
-31.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40PKR 112
$0.63PKR 174
-36.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26PKR 349
$1.26PKR 351
-
Eggs
$1.15PKR 320
$1.26PKR 351
-8.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.20PKR 1,725
$6.28PKR 1,747
-1.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.70PKR 750
$3.39PKR 942
-20.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.14PKR 872
$4.34PKR 1,206
-27.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$1.03PKR 287
-
Banana(1kg)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.84PKR 233
-35.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.66PKR 184
$0.90PKR 249
-26.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.60PKR 165
-13.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKR 104
$0.39PKR 108
-2.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 141
$0.54PKR 150
-5.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63PKR 176
$0.31PKR 86.2
103.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$0.41PKR 113
2.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.00PKR 278
$2.00PKR 555
-50.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.93PKR 259
-25.81%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95PKR 542
$1.96PKR 545
-0.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 527
$2.06PKR 573
-7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 51.6
$0.16PKR 43.81
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.87PKR 1,909
$7.05PKR 1,960
-2.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08PKR 302
$0.90PKR 251
20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.40PKR 111
32.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.75PKR 487
$2.85PKR 793
-38.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94PKR 261
$0.98PKR 273
-4.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
$20.8KPKR 5.8M
6.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KPKR 6.0M
$26.0KPKR 7.2M
-17.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.0PKR 16.4K
$112PKR 31.2K
-47.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.71PKR 1,031
$5.37PKR 1,492
-30.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.99PKR 3,610
$18.53PKR 5,152
-29.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.36PKR 3,436
$22.84PKR 6,351
-45.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95PKR 1,653
$6.01PKR 1,670
-1.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.53PKR 981
$4.17PKR 1,158
-15.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$28.11PKR 7,816
$59.2PKR 16.5K
-52.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,133PKR 315.1K
$2,812PKR 781.8K
-59.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.92PKR 4,427
$21.16PKR 5,883
-24.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.49PKR 6,253
$28.15PKR 7,827
-20.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.2PKR 16.7K
$90.0PKR 25.0K
-33.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.95PKR 7,216
$39.45PKR 11.0K
-34.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.2PKR 20.9K
$197PKR 54.7K
-61.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.8PKR 14.4K
$112PKR 31.1K
-53.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167PKR 46.4K
$515PKR 143.1K
-67.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 29.9K
$298PKR 82.9K
-63.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$760PKR 211.3K
$1,513PKR 420.5K
-49.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$412PKR 114.4K
$637PKR 177.2K
-35.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandi Bahauddin
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$382PKR 106.2K
-
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 14, 2026
Last update for Islamabad: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.2 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: $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 61%, 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 $499 per month in Mandi Bahauddin and $805 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 $333 in Mandi Bahauddin and $537 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