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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $295 per month in Okara vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $438 per month in Okara vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $582 per month in Okara vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.

Okara is about 45% 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

$1.04 PKR 288

$2.89 PKR 804

-64.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,989

$14.01 PKR 3,894

-23.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 PKR 1,144

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-23.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 805

$1.75 PKR 487

65.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 PKR 501

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-54.66%

Cappuccino

$1.22 PKR 339

$2.02 PKR 561

-39.60%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.9

$0.39 PKR 110

-10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 PKR 204

$1.02 PKR 284

-28.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.66 PKR 184

-39.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.27 PKR 353

-4.72%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.23 PKR 341

-5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.23 PKR 620

$6.02 PKR 1,675

-62.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 PKR 656

$3.41 PKR 948

-30.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 888

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-29.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 293

$1.03 PKR 288

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.84 PKR 233

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.90 PKR 251

-53.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.55 PKR 153

-18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.38 PKR 106

-5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.56 PKR 156

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.30 PKR 84.6

43.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.41 PKR 113

-29.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 PKR 257

$1.99 PKR 553

-53.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.93 PKR 257

-61.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$2.01 PKR 560

-54.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.53 PKR 425

$2.15 PKR 598

-28.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 PKR 33.14

$0.19 PKR 52.8

-36.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.85 PKR 793

$6.95 PKR 1,933

-58.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.85 PKR 236

-18.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.41 PKR 113

29.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.81 PKR 781

-38.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.95 PKR 264

-4.21%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-16.45%

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

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-9.82%

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

$90.2 PKR 25.1K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-19.41%

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

$3.10 PKR 861

$5.36 PKR 1,492

-42.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.65 PKR 2,961

$18.59 PKR 5,168

-42.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.63 PKR 3,511

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-42.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,682

$5.89 PKR 1,638

2.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,195

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-0.92%

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

$14.01 PKR 3,896

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-76.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,239 PKR 344.6K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-55.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.26 PKR 4,243

$21.12 PKR 5,873

-27.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.82 PKR 5,788

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-25.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.73 PKR 8,821

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-63.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.48 PKR 8,474

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-22.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$28.65 PKR 7,966

$201 PKR 56.0K

-85.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$17.41 PKR 4,839

$112 PKR 31.0K

-84.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$41.87 PKR 11.6K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-91.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$32.08 PKR 8,919

$298 PKR 82.9K

-89.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,004 PKR 279.2K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-35.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$515 PKR 143.3K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-20.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$145 PKR 40.3K

$378 PKR 105.1K

-61.68%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $28.65 in Okara versus $201 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 161% 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: $69.0 vs $100 – 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 81%, 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 $442 per month in Okara and $799 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 $295 in Okara and $533 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.