Cost of Living Comparison Between Okara and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Okara and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $298 per month in Okara vs $532 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $443 per month in Okara vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $588 per month in Okara vs $1,136 in Islamabad, rent included.

Okara is about 44% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Okara and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Okara 78% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.07 PKR 297

$2.89 PKR 803

-62.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,983

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-23.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.28 PKR 1,188

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-21.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 PKR 799

$1.76 PKR 488

63.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 PKR 504

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-51.98%

Cappuccino

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.98 PKR 550

-39.39%

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

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.39 PKR 108

-10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.8

$0.22 PKR 60.8

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 200

$1.02 PKR 284

-29.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.62 PKR 172

-29.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.22 PKR 339

-4.92%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.22 PKR 338

-1.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.19 PKR 608

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-63.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 PKR 626

$3.37 PKR 936

-32.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 903

$4.47 PKR 1,239

-27.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 293

$1.00 PKR 278

5.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.84 PKR 233

-39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.93 PKR 259

-56.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.57 PKR 157

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.58 PKR 160

-17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 PKR 91.8

30.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PKR 81.3

$0.37 PKR 104

-21.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 296

$1.90 PKR 528

-44.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

$0.85 PKR 236

-61.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.96 PKR 543

-56.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 PKR 408

$2.10 PKR 584

-30.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 PKR 26.64

$0.16 PKR 43.35

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.78 PKR 770

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-61.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.84 PKR 233

-11.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.44 PKR 122

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 503

$2.87 PKR 796

-36.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 243

$0.93 PKR 257

-6.45%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-16.95%

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

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-9.84%

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

$87.0 PKR 24.1K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-23.03%

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

$3.11 PKR 863

$5.39 PKR 1,495

-42.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.68 PKR 2,963

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-42.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.61 PKR 3,499

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-44.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.91 PKR 1,639

$6.02 PKR 1,671

-1.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 PKR 1,197

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-0.92%

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

$14.36 PKR 3,986

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-76.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,236 PKR 343.1K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-55.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.92 PKR 4,140

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-29.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.12 PKR 5,861

$28.13 PKR 7,806

-24.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.97 PKR 8,871

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-64.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.57 PKR 8,206

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-26.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$28.58 PKR 7,932

$197 PKR 54.8K

-85.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$17.73 PKR 4,919

$110 PKR 30.5K

-83.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$43.20 PKR 12.0K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-91.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$32.13 PKR 8,918

$299 PKR 83.1K

-89.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,002 PKR 278.0K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-36.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 144.3K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-19.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$146 PKR 40.4K

$387 PKR 107.5K

-62.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.2

-1.58%

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

Last update for Okara: July 28, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $28.58 in Okara versus $197 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 166% 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 $11.00 in Okara versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $68.0 vs $99.0 – making Okara 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

Okara vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 78%, 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 $447 per month in Okara and $798 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Okara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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 $11.00 in Okara 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 $298 in Okara and $532 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Okara – 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 Okara. 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.