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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $286 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $492 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $698 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Muzaffarabad is about 47% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Muzaffarabad and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Muzaffarabad 79% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.43 PKR 398

$2.85 PKR 791

-49.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.04 PKR 3,898

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.11 PKR 585

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-61.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 PKR 385

$1.72 PKR 477

-19.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 970

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-8.64%

Cappuccino

$1.07 PKR 298

$1.97 PKR 547

-45.69%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.8

$0.40 PKR 110

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.96 PKR 268

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.66 PKR 183

-21.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 349

$1.28 PKR 355

-1.56%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.20 PKR 334

-3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PKR 1,695

$6.07 PKR 1,687

0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 739

$3.37 PKR 937

-21.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.92 PKR 811

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-32.87%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$1.04 PKR 289

-10.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.84 PKR 234

-22.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 143

$0.91 PKR 253

-42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.56 PKR 156

-17.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.41 PKR 115

-17.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.57 PKR 158

-22.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.5

$0.31 PKR 85.4

-22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.41 PKR 113

-12.20%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.40 PKR 390

$2.00 PKR 555

-30.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 276

$0.93 PKR 258

6.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 655

$2.04 PKR 567

15.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 PKR 382

$2.14 PKR 595

-35.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.17 PKR 46.51

117.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.14 PKR 1,983

$7.22 PKR 2,006

-1.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.85 PKR 236

-1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.43 PKR 120

-23.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 PKR 718

$2.79 PKR 775

-7.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 265

$0.98 PKR 271

-3.06%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-14.28%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-13.09%

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

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-52.88%

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

$4.02 PKR 1,117

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-25.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.70 PKR 3,249

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-37.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.19 PKR 1,997

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-67.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.34 PKR 1,482

$6.12 PKR 1,699

-12.75%

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-12.08%

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

$25.13 PKR 6,978

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-58.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$934 PKR 259.3K

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

-66.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$5.29 PKR 1,469

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-74.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.78 PKR 2,439

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-68.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$10.62 PKR 2,950

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-74.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$59.2 PKR 16.4K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-70.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$27.33 PKR 7,588

$110 PKR 30.5K

-75.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 PKR 39.7K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-71.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.9K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-62.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$821 PKR 228.1K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-45.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.4K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-20.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 PKR 80.6K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-24.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-5.94%

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

Last update for Muzaffarabad: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $59.2 in Muzaffarabad 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 33% 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 $14.00 in Muzaffarabad versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $100 – making Muzaffarabad 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

Muzaffarabad vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 87%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $428 per month in Muzaffarabad 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 Muzaffarabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 $14.00 in Muzaffarabad 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 $286 in Muzaffarabad and $534 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Muzaffarabad – 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 Muzaffarabad. 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.