Cost of Living Comparison Between Muzaffarabad and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Muzaffarabad and Islamabad

🙂 Solo nomad: Muzaffarabad is 28.6% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 46.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Muzaffarabad is 34% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 40.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.44 PKR 408
$2.85 PKR 806
-49.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.19 PKR 4,006
$14.4 PKR 4,068
-1.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.17 PKR 614
$5.28 PKR 1,491
-58.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 PKR 394
$1.75 PKR 496
-20.57%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 PKR 959
$3.83 PKR 1,083
-11.23%
Cappuccino
$1.04 PKR 294
$2.01 PKR 567
-48.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 89.8
$0.39 PKR 111
-17.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 59.1
$0.24 PKR 68.1
-12.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 PKR 222
$1 PKR 282
-22.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 159
$0.67 PKR 188
-16.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 PKR 354
$1.22 PKR 344
2.46%
Eggs
$1.13 PKR 319
$1.27 PKR 358
-11.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 PKR 1,699
$6.15 PKR 1,736
-2.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.69 PKR 761
$3.55 PKR 1,004
-24.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.98 PKR 842
$4.31 PKR 1,216
-30.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 290
$1.03 PKR 292
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 PKR 191
$0.85 PKR 239
-20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 155
$0.9 PKR 255
-38.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.44 PKR 123
$0.59 PKR 167
-25.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 94.1
$0.42 PKR 118
-21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 PKR 130
$0.52 PKR 148
-11.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 PKR 67.4
$0.31 PKR 87.3
-22.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 95.4
$0.4 PKR 114
-15.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.38 PKR 391
$1.78 PKR 503
-22.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 PKR 280
$0.87 PKR 247
13.79%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 PKR 642
$1.96 PKR 554
15.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.43 PKR 405
$2.17 PKR 613
-34.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PKR 94.2
$0.19 PKR 53
73.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.27 PKR 2,052
$6.95 PKR 1,964
4.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.9 PKR 255
$0.85 PKR 239
5.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.44 PKR 123
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 PKR 721
$2.9 PKR 820
-12.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 PKR 250
$0.98 PKR 277
-9.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18K PKR 5.1M
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
-16.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K PKR 6.4M
$26K PKR 7.3M
-12.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.7 PKR 15.2K
$111 PKR 31.3K
-51.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.03 PKR 1,139
$5.35 PKR 1,512
-24.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.71 PKR 3,307
$18.38 PKR 5,191
-36.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$7.16 PKR 2,022
$22.44 PKR 6,339
-68.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.39 PKR 1,523
$6.02 PKR 1,700
-10.47%
Cinema Ticket
$3.52 PKR 994
$4.3 PKR 1,214
-18.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$24.66 PKR 6,965
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
-58.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$967 PKR 273.2K
$2,713 PKR 766.3K
-64.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.27 PKR 1,489
$21.17 PKR 5,980
-75.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.04 PKR 2,555
$28.14 PKR 7,947
-67.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.4 PKR 25K
$87.7 PKR 24.8K
0.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$10.78 PKR 3,046
$39.86 PKR 11.3K
-72.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
$202 PKR 57K
-70.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$26.73 PKR 7,551
$112 PKR 31.5K
-76.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$141 PKR 39.9K
$499 PKR 141.1K
-71.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 PKR 30.6K
$298 PKR 84.3K
-63.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$523 PKR 147.8K
$1,315 PKR 371.4K
-60.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$507 PKR 143.1K
$781 PKR 220.5K
-35.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 PKR 47.3K
$289 PKR 81.6K
-42.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19
20.2
-5.94%

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

Last update for Muzaffarabad: October 28, 2025

Last update for Islamabad: October 29, 2025

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