Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirpur and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirpur and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $313 per month in Mirpur vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $473 per month in Mirpur vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $633 per month in Mirpur vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mirpur is about 41% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mirpur and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mirpur 77% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.80 PKR 779

-38.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.48 PKR 2,082

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-47.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 PKR 1,013

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-33.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 PKR 384

$1.72 PKR 478

-19.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 PKR 486

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-56.25%

Cappuccino

$1.53 PKR 424

$2.00 PKR 557

-23.50%

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

$0.29 PKR 81.7

$0.43 PKR 119

-32.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 43.84

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-27.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.94 PKR 260

-25.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.62 PKR 173

-17.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.21 PKR 338

7.44%

Eggs

$0.83 PKR 232

$1.20 PKR 335

-30.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 993

$6.07 PKR 1,689

-41.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 717

$3.39 PKR 942

-23.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 910

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-25.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.03 PKR 287

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.78 PKR 216

-24.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.93 PKR 260

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.60 PKR 166

-13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 PKR 74.2

$0.41 PKR 115

-34.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.7

$0.54 PKR 149

-46.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.9

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-20.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 93.1

$0.37 PKR 103

-10.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 265

$1.93 PKR 537

-50.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.90 PKR 251

-5.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.99 PKR 552

3.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 PKR 509

$2.14 PKR 596

-14.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.70

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.10 PKR 1,974

$6.90 PKR 1,921

2.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.86 PKR 238

19.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.44 PKR 122

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.81 PKR 782

-37.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

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

$8,947 PKR 2.5M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-58.40%

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

$14.1K PKR 3.9M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-46.09%

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

$57.4 PKR 16.0K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-48.61%

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

$1.79 PKR 498

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-67.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.68 PKR 3,527

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-32.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.87 PKR 1,912

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-69.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.59 PKR 1,000

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-40.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,008

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-14.01%

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

$28.71 PKR 7,987

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-52.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,109 PKR 308.6K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-60.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.34 PKR 4,545

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-24.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.71 PKR 4,927

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-35.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.90 PKR 9,988

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-59.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.09 PKR 7,259

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-34.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.0 PKR 19.7K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-64.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-79.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.9 PKR 27.8K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-66.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,131 PKR 314.6K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-27.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$556 PKR 154.7K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-15.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$141 PKR 39.3K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-63.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-10.89%

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

Last update for Mirpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.0 in Mirpur 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 174% 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 $7.00 in Mirpur versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $74.0 vs $98.0 – making Mirpur 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

Mirpur vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $470 per month in Mirpur 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 Mirpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $7.00 in Mirpur and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $313 in Mirpur and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mirpur – 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 Mirpur. 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.