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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $303 per month in Okara vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $447 per month in Okara vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $592 per month in Okara vs $1,159 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 77% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.05 PKR 293

$2.87 PKR 802

-63.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.41 PKR 2,907

$14.22 PKR 3,968

-26.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.16 PKR 1,160

$5.23 PKR 1,461

-20.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 PKR 802

$1.74 PKR 486

64.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 PKR 505

$3.82 PKR 1,067

-52.62%

Cappuccino

$1.19 PKR 332

$2.05 PKR 573

-41.95%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.4

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.3

$0.22 PKR 61.3

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.96 PKR 267

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.61 PKR 171

-27.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 327

$1.27 PKR 356

-7.87%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.21 PKR 337

-4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.25 PKR 629

$6.17 PKR 1,722

-63.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.33 PKR 650

$3.49 PKR 975

-33.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.21 PKR 897

$4.39 PKR 1,226

-26.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 299

$1.03 PKR 289

3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.82 PKR 230

-37.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.94 PKR 264

-55.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.56 PKR 155

-19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.8

$0.38 PKR 106

-13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.53 PKR 147

-3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 92.7

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PKR 81.4

$0.37 PKR 104

-21.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.69 PKR 193

$1.96 PKR 548

-64.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.8

$0.92 PKR 256

-63.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 252

$1.98 PKR 553

-54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.52 PKR 424

$2.07 PKR 578

-26.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 PKR 27.69

$0.17 PKR 46.63

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.86 PKR 799

$6.98 PKR 1,948

-59.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.92 PKR 256

-23.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.41 PKR 113

19.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 502

$2.75 PKR 768

-34.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 269

$0.98 PKR 274

-2.04%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-17.39%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.5M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-11.46%

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

$89.0 PKR 24.9K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-20.11%

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

$3.15 PKR 880

$5.52 PKR 1,540

-42.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.40 PKR 2,903

$18.67 PKR 5,210

-44.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.51 PKR 3,493

$22.27 PKR 6,215

-43.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 PKR 1,627

$5.85 PKR 1,632

-0.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PKR 1,160

$4.14 PKR 1,155

0.48%

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

$14.22 PKR 3,968

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-76.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,255 PKR 350.4K

$2,782 PKR 776.4K

-54.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.02 PKR 4,193

$21.34 PKR 5,955

-29.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.53 PKR 6,011

$28.33 PKR 7,909

-24.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.30 PKR 8,737

$90.1 PKR 25.2K

-65.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.71 PKR 8,571

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$27.84 PKR 7,771

$200 PKR 55.8K

-86.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$17.77 PKR 4,961

$111 PKR 31.1K

-84.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$42.28 PKR 11.8K

$513 PKR 143.2K

-91.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$31.91 PKR 8,906

$288 PKR 80.5K

-88.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$740 PKR 206.6K

$1,526 PKR 425.8K

-51.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$505 PKR 140.9K

$740 PKR 206.6K

-31.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$143 PKR 39.8K

$307 PKR 85.8K

-53.57%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $27.84 in Okara versus $200 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 115% 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 $10.00 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 79%, 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 $454 per month in Okara and $814 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 $10.00 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 $303 in Okara and $543 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.