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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $390 per month in Mehar vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $584 per month in Mehar vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $778 per month in Mehar vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mehar is about 26% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mehar and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mehar 71% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 488

$2.80 PKR 779

-37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.59 PKR 2,946

$14.22 PKR 3,956

-25.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,110

$5.44 PKR 1,513

-26.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.72 PKR 478

1.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PKR 957

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-14.00%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 402

$2.00 PKR 558

-28.00%

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

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$0.43 PKR 119

-18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.94 PKR 260

-17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.62 PKR 173

-9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.21 PKR 338

-0.83%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.20 PKR 335

-2.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 PKR 1,703

$6.07 PKR 1,690

0.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.68 PKR 747

$3.39 PKR 942

-20.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 PKR 1,050

$4.38 PKR 1,219

-13.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.03 PKR 287

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.78 PKR 216

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.93 PKR 260

-34.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.60 PKR 166

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.41 PKR 115

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.54 PKR 149

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.1

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.7

$0.37 PKR 103

-8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.49 PKR 416

$1.93 PKR 538

-22.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.90 PKR 251

3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 565

$1.99 PKR 553

2.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 535

$2.14 PKR 596

-10.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.2

$0.19 PKR 52.2

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,013

$6.90 PKR 1,921

4.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 255

$0.86 PKR 239

5.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.81 PKR 782

-35.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.91 PKR 254

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

0.03%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-11.17%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-7.88%

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

$4.08 PKR 1,136

$5.44 PKR 1,513

-25.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.55 PKR 3,770

$18.81 PKR 5,235

-27.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.53 PKR 3,487

$22.19 PKR 6,176

-43.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 PKR 1,665

$6.04 PKR 1,680

-0.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.52 PKR 980

$4.21 PKR 1,172

-16.39%

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

$30.10 PKR 8,377

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-50.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,126 PKR 313.4K

$2,805 PKR 780.4K

-59.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.93 PKR 4,155

$21.57 PKR 6,001

-30.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.83 PKR 6,076

$27.63 PKR 7,688

-20.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-20.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,183

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-26.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-62.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-54.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.6K

$513 PKR 142.7K

-67.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$296 PKR 82.4K

-64.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,059 PKR 294.8K

$1,551 PKR 431.6K

-31.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.9K

$657 PKR 183.0K

-29.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-72.66%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $73.9 in Mehar versus $198 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 266% 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: $87.0 vs $98.0 – 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 36%, 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 $794 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 12% 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 $390 in Mehar and $529 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.