Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowshera and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowshera and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $360 per month in Nowshera vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $591 per month in Nowshera vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $823 per month in Nowshera vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Nowshera is about 32% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nowshera and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Nowshera 73% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.77 PKR 771

$2.80 PKR 779

-1.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.03 PKR 3,903

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 PKR 1,460

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-3.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.72 PKR 478

4.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PKR 1,091

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-2.00%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.43 PKR 119

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.94 PKR 260

-21.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.62 PKR 173

4.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.21 PKR 338

5.79%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 310

$1.20 PKR 335

-7.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,713

$6.07 PKR 1,689

1.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.82 PKR 783

$3.39 PKR 942

-16.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.96 PKR 1,102

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-9.59%

Apples (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$1.03 PKR 287

-43.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.78 PKR 216

-43.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.93 PKR 260

-7.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.60 PKR 166

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.41 PKR 115

-4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.54 PKR 149

-31.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.0

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.37 PKR 103

-10.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.37 PKR 382

$1.93 PKR 537

-29.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.90 PKR 251

3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 PKR 400

$1.99 PKR 552

-27.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 585

$2.14 PKR 596

-1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.74

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.96 PKR 1,936

$6.90 PKR 1,921

0.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.86 PKR 238

5.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.44 PKR 122

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 PKR 803

$2.81 PKR 782

2.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.91 PKR 253

6.59%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

0.10%

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

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-1.46%

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

$28.68 PKR 7,980

$112 PKR 31.1K

-74.33%

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

$2.11 PKR 586

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-61.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.89 PKR 3,307

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-36.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,476

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-43.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.10 PKR 1,698

$6.04 PKR 1,679

0.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

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

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-0.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,089 PKR 303.0K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-61.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.77 PKR 6,056

$21.57 PKR 5,999

0.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.50 PKR 7,928

$27.63 PKR 7,686

3.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

1.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.01 PKR 11.1K

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-61.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.2 PKR 14.3K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-54.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.6K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-67.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.3K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-64.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,017 PKR 283.0K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-34.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$504 PKR 140.2K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-23.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Nowshera: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.5 in Nowshera 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Nowshera versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $87.0 vs $98.0 – making Nowshera 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

Nowshera vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 47%, 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 $540 per month in Nowshera 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 Nowshera, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 Nowshera and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $360 in Nowshera and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Nowshera – 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 Nowshera. 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.