Cost of Living Comparison Between Mardan and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Mardan and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $433 per month in Mardan vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $639 per month in Mardan vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $844 per month in Mardan vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mardan is about 19% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mardan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mardan 68% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 PKR 593

$2.89 PKR 804

-26.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.42 PKR 4,010

$14.01 PKR 3,894

2.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.18 PKR 1,441

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-3.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.75 PKR 487

2.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 PKR 1,074

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-2.77%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 556

$2.02 PKR 561

-0.99%

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

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.39 PKR 110

-20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 224

$1.02 PKR 284

-20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 185

$0.66 PKR 184

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.27 PKR 353

-33.07%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.23 PKR 341

-6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.23 PKR 1,733

$6.02 PKR 1,675

3.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 661

$3.41 PKR 948

-30.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 907

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-28.04%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.03 PKR 288

-33.01%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.84 PKR 233

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.90 PKR 251

4.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.55 PKR 153

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 PKR 66.1

$0.38 PKR 106

-36.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.9

$0.56 PKR 156

-41.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.30 PKR 84.6

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.12 PKR 34.05

$0.41 PKR 113

-70.73%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.46 PKR 405

$1.99 PKR 553

-26.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.93 PKR 257

-1.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 544

$2.01 PKR 560

-2.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 PKR 384

$2.15 PKR 598

-35.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.73

$0.19 PKR 52.8

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.25 PKR 2,016

$6.95 PKR 1,933

4.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.85 PKR 236

-56.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.41 PKR 113

-9.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.81 PKR 781

-37.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 265

$0.95 PKR 264

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-1.09%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

0.27%

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

$112 PKR 31.2K

$112 PKR 31.1K

0.18%

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

$5.62 PKR 1,562

$5.36 PKR 1,492

4.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 PKR 5,280

$18.59 PKR 5,168

2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.30 PKR 3,420

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-44.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.78 PKR 1,607

$5.89 PKR 1,638

-1.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 PKR 1,147

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-4.84%

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

$17.76 PKR 4,937

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-70.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,095 PKR 304.3K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-60.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.73 PKR 6,043

$21.12 PKR 5,873

2.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.38 PKR 7,891

$27.99 PKR 7,782

1.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 PKR 24.3K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.89 PKR 4,973

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-54.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-63.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.5 PKR 14.6K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-52.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.5K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-68.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-63.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$774 PKR 215.2K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-50.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$424 PKR 118.0K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-34.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 PKR 74.4K

$378 PKR 105.1K

-29.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Mardan: June 7, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $73.9 in Mardan 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.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Mardan versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $79.0 vs $100 – making Mardan 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

Mardan vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $650 per month in Mardan and $799 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $14.00 in Mardan and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $433 in Mardan and $533 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mardan – 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 Mardan. 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.