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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $498 per month in Okara vs $593 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $718 per month in Okara vs $929 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $939 per month in Okara vs $1,264 in Islamabad, rent included.

Okara is about 16% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.52 PKR 698

$3.56 PKR 985

-29.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.23 PKR 3,942

$23.22 PKR 6,431

-38.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,539

$5.44 PKR 1,507

2.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 PKR 978

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-4.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,508

$6.73 PKR 1,866

-19.17%

Cappuccino

$2.58 PKR 715

$2.51 PKR 694

2.79%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.33 PKR 90.1

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.6

$0.21 PKR 58.2

23.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.94 PKR 261

-34.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.75 PKR 209

-10.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.25 PKR 347

-7.20%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 326

$1.21 PKR 335

-2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,751

$6.06 PKR 1,679

4.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.53 PKR 702

$3.20 PKR 886

-20.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 PKR 1,371

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-9.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.25 PKR 346

-2.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 PKR 189

$0.81 PKR 224

-16.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$1.03 PKR 286

-16.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.52 PKR 145

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.8

$0.26 PKR 71.2

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.33 PKR 90.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.30 PKR 83.6

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.42 PKR 118

-11.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.05 PKR 291

$2.01 PKR 556

-47.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$1.24 PKR 343

-47.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.59 PKR 719

-33.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 592

$2.32 PKR 641

-7.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.9

$0.20 PKR 55.7

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.14 PKR 2,809

$21.86 PKR 6,057

-53.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 245

$1.29 PKR 358

-31.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.74 PKR 205

-1.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 491

$1.61 PKR 445

9.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 256

$1.25 PKR 348

-25.60%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-67.30%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

6.40%

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

$130 PKR 36.1K

$104 PKR 28.9K

24.63%

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

$5.34 PKR 1,480

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-9.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.58 PKR 4,594

$16.18 PKR 4,481

2.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.17 PKR 1,708

$28.70 PKR 7,951

-78.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,176

$4.37 PKR 1,210

-2.75%

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

$14.66 PKR 4,061

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

-80.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,987 PKR 550.4K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-60.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.30 PKR 4,791

$25.08 PKR 6,947

-31.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.97 PKR 7,470

$35.11 PKR 9,727

-23.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 PKR 20.9K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-22.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.95 PKR 8,851

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

-19.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.2K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-54.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-43.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 PKR 75.0K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-54.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.0K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-53.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$806 PKR 223.3K

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

-50.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$489 PKR 135.3K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-40.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$142 PKR 39.4K

$379 PKR 104.9K

-62.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

13.08

9.17%

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

Last update for Okara: September 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Okara versus $278 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 $14.00 in Okara versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 vs $103 – 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 19%, 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 $746 per month in Okara and $890 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 10% 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 Okara and $23.00 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 $498 in Okara and $593 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.