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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $287 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $489 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $690 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Muzaffarabad is about 46% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Muzaffarabad and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Muzaffarabad 79% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.37 PKR 382

$2.80 PKR 779

-51.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.42 PKR 4,011

$14.22 PKR 3,955

1.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.15 PKR 598

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-60.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 PKR 382

$1.72 PKR 478

-20.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 977

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-12.25%

Cappuccino

$1.03 PKR 286

$2.00 PKR 557

-48.50%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.8

$0.43 PKR 119

-25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 221

$0.94 PKR 260

-14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.62 PKR 173

-9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 349

$1.21 PKR 338

3.31%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.20 PKR 335

-3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 PKR 1,654

$6.07 PKR 1,690

-1.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 740

$3.39 PKR 942

-21.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.94 PKR 817

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-32.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 279

$1.03 PKR 287

-2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.78 PKR 216

-19.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.93 PKR 260

-41.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.60 PKR 166

-21.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.41 PKR 115

-12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.54 PKR 149

-20.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.6

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.37 PKR 103

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.38 PKR 384

$1.93 PKR 538

-28.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 285

$0.90 PKR 251

13.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PKR 645

$1.99 PKR 553

16.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 PKR 398

$2.14 PKR 596

-33.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.19 PKR 52.2

94.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.00 PKR 1,947

$6.90 PKR 1,921

1.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.86 PKR 238

-1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 98.7

$0.44 PKR 122

-20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 PKR 748

$2.81 PKR 782

-4.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 265

$0.91 PKR 253

4.40%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-19.03%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-13.15%

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

$53.9 PKR 15.0K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-51.78%

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

$4.00 PKR 1,114

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-26.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.28 PKR 3,138

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-40.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.11 PKR 1,978

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-67.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.37 PKR 1,493

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-11.09%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 965

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-17.58%

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

$24.39 PKR 6,786

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-59.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$934 PKR 259.9K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-66.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$5.27 PKR 1,466

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-75.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.03 PKR 2,513

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-67.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 PKR 24.2K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-1.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$10.45 PKR 2,907

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-73.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$59.0 PKR 16.4K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-70.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$27.15 PKR 7,553

$112 PKR 31.1K

-75.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 PKR 39.7K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-72.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.7K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-62.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,020 PKR 283.7K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-34.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$441 PKR 122.6K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-32.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-24.89%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $59.0 in Muzaffarabad versus $198 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 $98.0 – 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 84%, 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 $431 per month in Muzaffarabad and $794 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 17% 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 $287 in Muzaffarabad and $529 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.