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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $353 per month in Nowshera vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $579 per month in Nowshera vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $805 per month in Nowshera vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Nowshera is about 34% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nowshera and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Nowshera 74% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$2.85 PKR 791

1.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.31 PKR 3,974

$14.26 PKR 3,960

0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,486

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-1.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 498

$1.72 PKR 477

4.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PKR 1,090

$3.82 PKR 1,061

2.62%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 569

$1.97 PKR 547

4.06%

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

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.40 PKR 110

7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.24 PKR 67.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.96 PKR 268

-17.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.66 PKR 183

-6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.28 PKR 355

-5.47%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.20 PKR 334

-5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,760

$6.07 PKR 1,687

4.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 PKR 768

$3.37 PKR 937

-18.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.91 PKR 1,086

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-10.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$1.04 PKR 289

-43.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.84 PKR 234

-52.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 246

$0.91 PKR 253

-2.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.56 PKR 156

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.41 PKR 115

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.57 PKR 158

-42.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.8

$0.31 PKR 85.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.41 PKR 113

-9.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.48 PKR 412

$2.00 PKR 555

-26.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.93 PKR 258

-8.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 PKR 381

$2.04 PKR 567

-32.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 600

$2.14 PKR 595

0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.59

$0.17 PKR 46.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.23 PKR 2,008

$7.22 PKR 2,005

0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.85 PKR 236

8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.43 PKR 120

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 PKR 768

$2.79 PKR 775

-0.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

0.14%

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

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-0.68%

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

$28.81 PKR 7,999

$114 PKR 31.6K

-74.66%

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

$2.11 PKR 585

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-61.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.46 PKR 3,183

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-38.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.55 PKR 3,486

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-43.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 PKR 1,642

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-3.27%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,168

$4.14 PKR 1,150

1.69%

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

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-1.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,108 PKR 307.8K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-59.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.24 PKR 5,898

$21.08 PKR 5,854

0.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.23 PKR 7,839

$27.64 PKR 7,674

2.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 PKR 24.3K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-0.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.80 PKR 11.3K

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-61.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.1 PKR 14.2K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-53.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.0K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-67.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-65.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$871 PKR 241.8K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-42.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 PKR 147.6K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-17.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Nowshera 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.

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 $100 – 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 51%, 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 $529 per month in Nowshera 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 Nowshera, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $353 in Nowshera and $534 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.