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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $365 per month in Mirpur vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $554 per month in Mirpur vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $743 per month in Mirpur vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mirpur is about 38% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mirpur and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Mirpur 73% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 492

$3.57 PKR 989

-50.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.42 PKR 2,058

$22.74 PKR 6,305

-67.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,506

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-0.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 PKR 308

$3.55 PKR 985

-68.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 PKR 494

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-73.47%

Cappuccino

$1.10 PKR 304

$2.39 PKR 663

-53.97%

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

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.32 PKR 90.0

46.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.3

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.99 PKR 275

-15.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.79 PKR 219

-25.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.28 PKR 354

-5.47%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.28 PKR 356

-7.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.52 PKR 976

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-42.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 736

$3.06 PKR 848

-13.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,094

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-22.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 301

$1.34 PKR 371

-19.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.84 PKR 232

-26.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$1.02 PKR 282

-48.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.49 PKR 135

4.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.3

$0.29 PKR 81.1

3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.29 PKR 80.8

3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.90 PKR 528

-5.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.38 PKR 383

-23.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 PKR 785

$2.35 PKR 651

20.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 PKR 560

$2.28 PKR 632

-11.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 45.81

$0.16 PKR 44.29

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.78 PKR 2,713

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-53.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$1.27 PKR 353

-13.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.69 PKR 191

-69.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 822

$1.65 PKR 458

80.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.32 PKR 365

-25.76%

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

$8,886 PKR 2.5M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-83.53%

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

$14.5K PKR 4.0M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-42.35%

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

$68.2 PKR 18.9K

$102 PKR 28.3K

-33.20%

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

$5.72 PKR 1,585

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-1.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.71 PKR 4,078

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-9.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.03 PKR 4,167

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-48.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$8.93 PKR 2,477

-59.24%

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 PKR 983

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-29.14%

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

$26.62 PKR 7,382

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-64.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,058 PKR 570.6K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-59.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.76 PKR 4,925

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-24.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.12 PKR 5,025

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-44.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.39 PKR 10.1K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-56.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.79 PKR 7,981

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-26.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-54.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 PKR 21.8K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-45.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 PKR 70.8K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-55.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.9K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-43.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$863 PKR 239.3K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-47.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 PKR 138.4K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-39.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$145 PKR 40.2K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-62.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

13.08

-9.56%

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

Last update for Mirpur: August 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Mirpur versus $277 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 163% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $81.0 vs $103 – 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 61%, 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 $548 per month in Mirpur and $884 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 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 $7.00 in Mirpur and $23.00 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 $365 in Mirpur and $589 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.