Cost of Living Comparison Between Nawabshah and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Nawabshah and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $459 per month in Nawabshah vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $699 per month in Nawabshah vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $938 per month in Nawabshah vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Nawabshah is about 22% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nawabshah and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Nawabshah 67% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 585

$3.57 PKR 989

-40.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.36 PKR 3,980

$22.74 PKR 6,305

-36.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.37 PKR 1,489

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-1.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 PKR 583

$3.55 PKR 985

-40.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 PKR 1,992

$6.71 PKR 1,861

7.15%

Cappuccino

$2.17 PKR 602

$2.39 PKR 663

-9.21%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.32 PKR 90.0

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.8

$0.22 PKR 60.8

13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.99 PKR 275

-10.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 143

$0.79 PKR 219

-34.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.28 PKR 354

-6.25%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.28 PKR 356

-4.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,712

$6.11 PKR 1,694

0.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 PKR 829

$3.06 PKR 848

-2.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,688

$5.12 PKR 1,420

18.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.34 PKR 371

-11.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.84 PKR 232

-35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 273

$1.02 PKR 282

-2.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 154

$0.49 PKR 135

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 87.5

$0.29 PKR 81.1

10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.33 PKR 90.4

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.29 PKR 80.8

34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.38 PKR 106

7.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 357

$1.90 PKR 528

-32.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 PKR 364

$1.38 PKR 383

-5.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PKR 675

$2.35 PKR 651

3.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 PKR 507

$2.28 PKR 632

-19.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.01

$0.16 PKR 44.29

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.27 PKR 2,846

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-51.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.27 PKR 353

-44.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 PKR 210

$0.69 PKR 191

10.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 PKR 613

$1.65 PKR 458

33.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 PKR 357

$1.32 PKR 365

-2.27%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-66.93%

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

$26.5K PKR 7.4M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

5.75%

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

$104 PKR 28.7K

$102 PKR 28.3K

1.49%

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

$5.62 PKR 1,557

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.83 PKR 3,558

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-21.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.61 PKR 3,774

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-53.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.22 PKR 1,169

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-15.77%

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

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-32.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,386 PKR 384.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-72.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.83 PKR 4,111

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-37.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.00 PKR 6,100

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-32.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-20.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.29 PKR 9,785

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-10.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$125 PKR 34.7K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-54.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.0 PKR 21.3K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-46.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 PKR 71.0K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-55.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 PKR 40.9K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-44.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 PKR 221.4K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-51.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 PKR 148.2K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-35.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-66.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

13.08

-1.53%

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

Last update for Nawabshah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $125 in Nawabshah 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 199% 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 Nawabshah versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $103 – making Nawabshah 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

Nawabshah vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $689 per month in Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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 Nawabshah and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $459 in Nawabshah and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Nawabshah – 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 Nawabshah. 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.