Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mianwali and Islamabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Mianwali: $415 a month against $599 in Islamabad, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

20

Cost of Living Index in Mianwali
Learn more

Mianwali Living Index
29

Cost of Living Index in Islamabad
Learn more

Islamabad Living Index

Jump to prices

Mianwali

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$415

/mo nomad

Islamabad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$599

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mianwali and in Islamabad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mianwali and in Islamabad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $415 per month in Mianwali vs $599 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mianwali $415
Islamabad $599

A couple spends around $602 per month in Mianwali vs $930 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mianwali $602
Islamabad $930

A family of three spends $789 per month in Mianwali vs $1,261 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mianwali $789
Islamabad $1,261

Mianwali is about 31% cheaper than Islamabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Mianwali and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mianwali 69% lower, Islamabad 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 707

$3.63 PKR 1,004

-29.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.92 PKR 2,193

$23.40 PKR 6,478

-66.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 PKR 1,593

$5.54 PKR 1,534

3.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 PKR 1,022

$3.57 PKR 987

3.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 PKR 1,536

$6.73 PKR 1,864

-17.53%

Cappuccino

$1.05 PKR 292

$2.64 PKR 730

-60.23%

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

$0.24 PKR 66.1

$0.32 PKR 89.6

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 52.1

$0.23 PKR 63.7

-17.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.94 PKR 259

-23.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 PKR 137

$0.72 PKR 200

-30.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.30 PKR 361

-14.62%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.22 PKR 339

-1.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.45 PKR 1,786

$6.05 PKR 1,674

6.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.47 PKR 407

$3.09 PKR 855

-52.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 PKR 973

$5.35 PKR 1,482

-34.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.26 PKR 350

-5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.87 PKR 241

-19.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 PKR 207

$1.04 PKR 288

-27.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.53 PKR 146

-15.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.1

$0.29 PKR 81.2

3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.9

$0.36 PKR 99.4

-2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.28 PKR 76.4

82.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.39 PKR 108

-5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.10 PKR 305

$1.95 PKR 539

-43.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 PKR 182

$1.19 PKR 331

-44.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.68 PKR 743

-35.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.11 PKR 307

$2.24 PKR 619

-50.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 51.6

$0.16 PKR 43.07

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.47 PKR 2,622

$21.34 PKR 5,905

-55.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 PKR 208

$1.24 PKR 344

-39.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.74 PKR 204

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 PKR 515

$1.60 PKR 442

16.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.37 PKR 378

-10.22%

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

$18.3K PKR 5.1M

$54.5K PKR 15.1M

-66.35%

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

$25.4K PKR 7.0M

$23.9K PKR 6.6M

6.42%

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

$109 PKR 30.1K

$103 PKR 28.6K

5.44%

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

$3.32 PKR 919

$5.99 PKR 1,658

-44.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,497

$17.15 PKR 4,746

-5.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.04 PKR 2,225

$28.20 PKR 7,806

-71.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.24 PKR 2,281

$8.47 PKR 2,344

-2.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 PKR 1,172

$4.43 PKR 1,226

-4.29%

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

$48.56 PKR 13.4K

$75.7 PKR 20.9K

-35.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,017 PKR 558.2K

$5,004 PKR 1.4M

-59.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.37 PKR 3,701

$25.72 PKR 7,118

-48.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.16 PKR 3,919

$34.48 PKR 9,543

-58.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 PKR 20.0K

$95.5 PKR 26.4K

-24.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$8.79 PKR 2,433

$41.32 PKR 11.4K

-78.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$276 PKR 76.5K

-53.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.0 PKR 20.5K

$139 PKR 38.3K

-46.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 PKR 66.5K

$572 PKR 158.2K

-57.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 PKR 39.0K

$270 PKR 74.9K

-47.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,027 PKR 284.2K

$1,629 PKR 450.8K

-36.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$424 PKR 117.5K

$836 PKR 231.5K

-49.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$380 PKR 105.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.05

13.08

7.42%

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

Last update for Mianwali: October 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mianwali

$128 31%

Islamabad

$126 21.1% 1.6% $2.1

Groceries & Markets

Mianwali

$82 19.8%

Islamabad

$102 17% 24.1% $20

Accommodation & Living

Mianwali

$74 17.8%

Islamabad

$139 23.1% 87.2% $65

Eating Out

Mianwali

$52 12.6%

Islamabad

$80 13.3% 52.7% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Mianwali

$49 11.8%

Islamabad

$89 14.8% 81.4% $40

Sport & Entertainment

Mianwali

$17 4%

Islamabad

$37 6.2% 125% $21

Getting Around

Mianwali

$13 3.1%

Islamabad

$27 4.5% 109% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $128 in Mianwali versus $276 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 $8.00 in Mianwali versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 vs $102 – making Mianwali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇰 Mianwali

🇵🇰 Islamabad

🕒 Local time

10:25 10:25 AM

Same time as Mianwali

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

118,883

1,009,832 Capital

💱 Currency

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Mianwali Islamabad 190 km

From you

Mianwali
Islamabad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Mianwali vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 44%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $622 per month in Mianwali and $899 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $8.00 in Mianwali and $23.00 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 $415 in Mianwali and $599 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mianwali – 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 Mianwali. 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.