Cost of Living Comparison Between Multan and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Multan and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $521 per month in Multan vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $733 per month in Multan vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $945 per month in Multan vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Multan is about 12% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Multan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Multan 62% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 717

$3.57 PKR 989

-27.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PKR 3,024

$22.74 PKR 6,303

-52.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,540

$5.47 PKR 1,515

1.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 PKR 733

$3.55 PKR 985

-25.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,483

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-20.27%

Cappuccino

$1.87 PKR 519

$2.39 PKR 663

-21.76%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.9

$0.32 PKR 89.9

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 50.9

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.99 PKR 275

-28.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.79 PKR 219

-34.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.28 PKR 354

-16.41%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 318

$1.28 PKR 356

-10.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 PKR 2,006

$6.11 PKR 1,694

18.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.37 PKR 657

$3.06 PKR 848

-22.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 PKR 1,184

$5.12 PKR 1,419

-16.60%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.34 PKR 371

-32.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.84 PKR 232

-42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 PKR 196

$1.02 PKR 282

-30.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 148

$0.49 PKR 135

10.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.29 PKR 81.1

34.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 PKR 90.3

30.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.29 PKR 80.7

72.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.38 PKR 106

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.83 PKR 507

$1.90 PKR 528

-3.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 PKR 804

$2.35 PKR 651

23.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 PKR 610

$2.28 PKR 632

-3.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.6

$0.16 PKR 44.27

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.06 PKR 1,957

$21.23 PKR 5,884

-66.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PKR 394

$1.27 PKR 353

11.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.69 PKR 191

-46.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 257

$1.65 PKR 458

-43.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 PKR 301

$1.32 PKR 365

-17.42%

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

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-53.54%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

4.50%

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

$144 PKR 39.9K

$102 PKR 28.3K

41.09%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,358

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-15.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.48 PKR 5,400

$16.34 PKR 4,530

19.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.31 PKR 6,738

$29.09 PKR 8,064

-16.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.55 PKR 983

$8.93 PKR 2,476

-60.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.46 PKR 1,236

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-10.98%

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

$41.85 PKR 11.6K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-44.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,010 PKR 279.8K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.34 PKR 5,082

$23.55 PKR 6,527

-22.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.99 PKR 5,264

$32.68 PKR 9,058

-41.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 PKR 25.4K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

9.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.07 PKR 7,226

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-33.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 PKR 39.7K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-48.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.6 PKR 26.0K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-35.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 PKR 59.4K

$577 PKR 159.9K

-62.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 PKR 40.7K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-44.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 229.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 PKR 51.6K

$381 PKR 105.7K

-51.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

-0.61%

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

Last update for Multan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $143 in Multan 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 105% 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 Multan versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $103 – making Multan 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

Multan vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $782 per month in Multan 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 Multan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 Multan and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $521 in Multan and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Multan – 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 Multan. 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.