Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $391 per month in Mehar vs $535 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $589 per month in Mehar vs $833 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $786 per month in Mehar vs $1,131 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mehar is about 27% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mehar and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mehar 71% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.81 PKR 781

-35.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,953

$14.13 PKR 3,923

-24.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.01 PKR 1,114

$5.44 PKR 1,510

-26.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 483

$1.80 PKR 498

-3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 969

$3.94 PKR 1,094

-11.42%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 397

$2.04 PKR 567

-29.90%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.39 PKR 108

-20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.24 PKR 66.7

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.95 PKR 263

-21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.66 PKR 182

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.27 PKR 354

-4.72%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.26 PKR 350

-10.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 PKR 1,639

$6.14 PKR 1,704

-3.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 PKR 718

$3.55 PKR 984

-27.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.63 PKR 1,009

$4.52 PKR 1,254

-19.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.05 PKR 291

-3.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 179

$0.80 PKR 222

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.91 PKR 252

-30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.59 PKR 165

-11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.0

$0.42 PKR 116

-19.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.53 PKR 149

-3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.31 PKR 85.7

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.40 PKR 112

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.95 PKR 541

-31.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.90 PKR 251

-3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$2.03 PKR 565

0.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 534

$2.16 PKR 601

-11.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.0

$0.18 PKR 49.97

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,957

$7.20 PKR 1,998

-2.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.92 PKR 255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.43 PKR 120

-6.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.78 PKR 772

-37.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.99 PKR 274

-9.09%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-0.15%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-12.73%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-9.75%

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

$3.94 PKR 1,095

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-27.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.98 PKR 3,882

$18.79 PKR 5,216

-25.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.18 PKR 3,381

$22.78 PKR 6,325

-46.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.88 PKR 1,633

$6.05 PKR 1,680

-2.81%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 PKR 956

$4.35 PKR 1,208

-20.92%

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

$29.49 PKR 8,186

$59.5 PKR 16.5K

-50.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,128 PKR 313.2K

$2,754 PKR 764.7K

-59.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.46 PKR 4,293

$21.76 PKR 6,041

-28.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.26 PKR 6,180

$28.27 PKR 7,850

-21.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 PKR 19.5K

$86.7 PKR 24.1K

-18.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.10 PKR 8,080

$40.56 PKR 11.3K

-28.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

$201 PKR 55.7K

-62.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-54.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.9K

$508 PKR 141.0K

-67.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$296 PKR 82.1K

-64.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$787 PKR 218.5K

$1,557 PKR 432.3K

-49.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$434 PKR 120.6K

$656 PKR 182.0K

-33.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$109 PKR 30.3K

$378 PKR 105.1K

-71.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-5.94%

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

Last update for Mehar: July 22, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.2 in Mehar 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 247% 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 $11.00 in Mehar versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $101 – making Mehar 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

Mehar vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $586 per month in Mehar and $802 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Mehar and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $391 in Mehar and $535 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mehar – 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 Mehar. 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.