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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $406 per month in Multan vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $615 per month in Multan vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $824 per month in Multan vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Multan is about 24% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Multan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Multan 70% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.07 PKR 573

$2.85 PKR 790

-27.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.62 PKR 2,390

$14.26 PKR 3,955

-39.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 PKR 1,430

$5.44 PKR 1,509

-5.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 486

$1.72 PKR 477

1.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 PKR 894

$3.82 PKR 1,059

-15.71%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 397

$1.97 PKR 547

-27.41%

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

$0.30 PKR 84.2

$0.40 PKR 110

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.5

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.96 PKR 268

-38.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.66 PKR 183

-15.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 290

$1.28 PKR 354

-17.97%

Eggs

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.20 PKR 334

-14.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 PKR 1,321

$6.07 PKR 1,685

-21.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 PKR 720

$3.37 PKR 935

-22.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.08 PKR 855

$4.35 PKR 1,207

-29.20%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.04 PKR 289

-4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.84 PKR 233

-19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.91 PKR 252

-37.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.56 PKR 156

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.41 PKR 115

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.57 PKR 158

-29.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.31 PKR 85.3

93.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 98.6

$0.41 PKR 113

-12.20%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.00 PKR 555

-9.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PKR 435

$0.93 PKR 257

68.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 PKR 509

$2.04 PKR 566

-10.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 533

$2.14 PKR 594

-10.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.1

$0.17 PKR 46.45

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 PKR 1,989

$7.22 PKR 2,003

-0.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.85 PKR 236

22.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 PKR 85.1

$0.43 PKR 120

-27.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PKR 394

$2.79 PKR 774

-49.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.98 PKR 271

1.02%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

6.40%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-13.16%

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

$105 PKR 29.0K

$114 PKR 31.5K

-8.07%

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

$4.92 PKR 1,363

$5.41 PKR 1,499

-9.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.89 PKR 3,852

$18.69 PKR 5,184

-25.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.04 PKR 5,002

$22.13 PKR 6,136

-18.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.58 PKR 3,490

$6.12 PKR 1,696

105.56%

Cinema Ticket

$2.63 PKR 730

$4.14 PKR 1,148

-36.47%

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

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-39.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,754 PKR 486.5K

$2,753 PKR 763.5K

-36.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.64 PKR 4,616

$21.08 PKR 5,846

-21.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.32 PKR 7,576

$27.64 PKR 7,664

-1.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 PKR 19.5K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-20.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.67 PKR 8,228

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-27.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

$199 PKR 55.2K

-56.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-47.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$505 PKR 140.0K

-65.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 PKR 34.7K

$299 PKR 82.9K

-58.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 419.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.7K

$385 PKR 106.8K

-52.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.43

20.2

-13.71%

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

Last update for Multan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $86.9 in Multan versus $199 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 111% 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 $9.00 in Multan versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $79.0 vs $100 – 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 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $608 per month in Multan and $801 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 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 $9.00 in Multan and $14.00 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 $406 in Multan and $534 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.