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 $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $641 per month in Mardan vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Mardan vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mardan is about 20% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mardan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mardan 68% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 PKR 608

$2.87 PKR 802

-24.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.39 PKR 4,017

$14.22 PKR 3,968

1.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,493

$5.23 PKR 1,461

2.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 488

$1.74 PKR 486

0.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 PKR 1,098

$3.82 PKR 1,067

2.88%

Cappuccino

$2.06 PKR 575

$2.05 PKR 573

0.49%

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

$0.29 PKR 79.9

$0.39 PKR 109

-25.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.22 PKR 61.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 217

$0.96 PKR 267

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 PKR 183

$0.61 PKR 171

6.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$1.27 PKR 356

-33.86%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.21 PKR 337

-4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,682

$6.17 PKR 1,722

-2.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.39 PKR 667

$3.49 PKR 975

-31.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 867

$4.39 PKR 1,226

-29.38%

Apples (1kg)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.03 PKR 289

-28.16%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.82 PKR 230

-32.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 PKR 266

$0.94 PKR 264

1.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.9

$0.56 PKR 155

-46.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 PKR 66.9

$0.38 PKR 106

-36.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.53 PKR 147

-30.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 PKR 41.22

$0.37 PKR 104

-59.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 553

$1.96 PKR 548

1.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 243

$0.92 PKR 256

-5.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 555

$1.98 PKR 553

0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.37 PKR 384

$2.07 PKR 578

-33.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.07

$0.17 PKR 46.63

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.04 PKR 1,966

$6.98 PKR 1,948

0.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.92 PKR 256

-60.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 PKR 96.1

$0.41 PKR 113

-17.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 506

$2.75 PKR 768

-34.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.98 PKR 274

-1.02%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-2.18%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

0.43%

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

$114 PKR 31.9K

$111 PKR 31.1K

2.42%

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

$5.37 PKR 1,499

$5.52 PKR 1,540

-2.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.43 PKR 5,144

$18.67 PKR 5,210

-1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.43 PKR 3,469

$22.27 PKR 6,215

-44.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.91 PKR 1,649

$5.85 PKR 1,632

1.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 PKR 1,166

$4.14 PKR 1,155

0.97%

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

$17.36 PKR 4,845

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-71.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,128 PKR 314.8K

$2,782 PKR 776.4K

-59.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.42 PKR 5,978

$21.34 PKR 5,955

0.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 PKR 7,791

$28.33 PKR 7,909

-1.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 25.0K

$90.1 PKR 25.2K

-0.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.55 PKR 4,899

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-57.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.2K

$200 PKR 55.8K

-62.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-53.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.9K

$513 PKR 143.2K

-67.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.2K

$288 PKR 80.5K

-62.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 PKR 425.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$270 PKR 75.3K

$307 PKR 85.8K

-12.25%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.8 in Mardan versus $200 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 14% 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: $78.0 vs $99.0 – 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 25%, 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 $814 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 27% 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 $543 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.