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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $499 per month in Nowshera vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $767 per month in Nowshera vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,035 per month in Nowshera vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Nowshera is about 15% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Nowshera and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Nowshera 64% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 PKR 979

$3.57 PKR 989

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.17 PKR 6,423

$22.74 PKR 6,305

1.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 PKR 1,513

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 PKR 982

$3.55 PKR 985

-0.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.00 PKR 1,940

$6.71 PKR 1,861

4.32%

Cappuccino

$2.48 PKR 688

$2.39 PKR 663

3.77%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.2

$0.32 PKR 90.0

3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.22 PKR 60.8

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.99 PKR 275

-5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.79 PKR 219

-6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 348

$1.28 PKR 354

-1.56%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.28 PKR 356

-3.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 PKR 1,632

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-3.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 885

$3.06 PKR 848

4.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 PKR 1,407

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.34 PKR 371

-5.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 228

$0.84 PKR 232

-2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 297

$1.02 PKR 282

4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.49 PKR 135

-6.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 PKR 74.6

$0.29 PKR 81.1

-6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.8

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.7

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.85 PKR 513

$1.90 PKR 528

-2.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.35 PKR 651

5.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 PKR 665

$2.28 PKR 632

5.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.6

$0.16 PKR 44.29

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.34 PKR 3,144

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-46.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 PKR 344

$1.27 PKR 353

-2.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.69 PKR 191

1.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PKR 454

$1.65 PKR 458

-0.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.32 PKR 365

-4.55%

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

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-59.52%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

0.11%

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

$103 PKR 28.4K

$102 PKR 28.3K

0.44%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,630

$5.83 PKR 1,617

0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.19 PKR 4,489

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.94 PKR 4,420

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-45.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 PKR 1,312

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-5.59%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-0.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$999 PKR 277.0K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.51 PKR 6,518

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.94 PKR 8,855

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-2.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 PKR 22.8K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-1.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.52 PKR 11.0K

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

0.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 PKR 31.9K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-58.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.3 PKR 21.2K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-47.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.9K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-51.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-40.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$808 PKR 224.0K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-50.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$538 PKR 149.2K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-35.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Nowshera: August 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Nowshera 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Nowshera versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $103 – 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 18%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $749 per month in Nowshera 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 Nowshera, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% 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 $23.00 in Nowshera and $23.00 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 $499 in Nowshera and $589 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.