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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $500 per month in Mardan vs $593 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $767 per month in Mardan vs $929 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,033 per month in Mardan vs $1,264 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mardan is about 16% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mardan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mardan 63% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 PKR 994

$3.56 PKR 985

0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.00 PKR 6,371

$23.22 PKR 6,431

-0.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 PKR 1,531

$5.44 PKR 1,507

1.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 PKR 994

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-3.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 PKR 1,918

$6.73 PKR 1,866

2.82%

Cappuccino

$2.62 PKR 725

$2.51 PKR 694

4.38%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.5

$0.33 PKR 90.1

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.21 PKR 58.2

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.94 PKR 261

-3.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.75 PKR 209

5.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 357

$1.25 PKR 347

3.20%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.21 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.97 PKR 823

$6.06 PKR 1,679

-50.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 864

$3.20 PKR 886

-2.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 PKR 1,035

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-31.50%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.25 PKR 346

-24.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.81 PKR 224

-8.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 295

$1.03 PKR 286

2.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.52 PKR 145

-28.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 78.3

$0.26 PKR 71.2

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.33 PKR 90.7

6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.28 PKR 76.4

$0.30 PKR 83.6

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.42 PKR 118

-11.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.77 PKR 489

$2.01 PKR 556

-11.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PKR 326

$1.24 PKR 343

-4.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 PKR 746

$2.59 PKR 719

3.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 PKR 493

$2.32 PKR 641

-23.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.23

$0.20 PKR 55.7

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.72 PKR 2,970

$21.86 PKR 6,057

-50.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 PKR 359

$1.29 PKR 358

0.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 PKR 460

$1.61 PKR 445

3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.25 PKR 348

-18.40%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-60.43%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-2.38%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

-0.26%

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

$5.69 PKR 1,575

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-3.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.72 PKR 4,353

$16.18 PKR 4,481

-2.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.73 PKR 4,079

$28.70 PKR 7,951

-48.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,203

$4.37 PKR 1,210

-0.69%

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

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

0.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,028 PKR 284.9K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-79.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.74 PKR 6,852

$25.08 PKR 6,947

-1.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.30 PKR 9,501

$35.11 PKR 9,727

-2.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 PKR 27.2K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.71 PKR 11.3K

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

1.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-54.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-43.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 PKR 69.4K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-57.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.7K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-45.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$994 PKR 275.4K

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

-38.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$591 PKR 163.8K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-27.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Mardan: September 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $128 in Mardan 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 $23.00 in Mardan versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $85.0 vs $103 – 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 19%, 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 $750 per month in Mardan 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 Mardan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $23.00 in Mardan and $23.00 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 $500 in Mardan and $593 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.