Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakpattan and Islamabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakpattan: $448 a month against $599 in Islamabad, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

22

Cost of Living Index in Pakpattan
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Pakpattan Living Index
29

Cost of Living Index in Islamabad
Learn more

Islamabad Living Index

Jump to prices

Pakpattan

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$448

/mo nomad

Islamabad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$599

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pakpattan and in Islamabad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakpattan and in Islamabad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $448 per month in Pakpattan vs $599 in Islamabad, rent included.

Pakpattan $448
Islamabad $599

A couple spends around $637 per month in Pakpattan vs $930 in Islamabad, rent included.

Pakpattan $637
Islamabad $930

A family of three spends $827 per month in Pakpattan vs $1,261 in Islamabad, rent included.

Pakpattan $827
Islamabad $1,261

Pakpattan is about 25% cheaper than Islamabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Pakpattan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Pakpattan 67% lower, Islamabad 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.29 PKR 357

$3.63 PKR 1,004

-64.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.80 PKR 2,988

$23.40 PKR 6,478

-53.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.37 PKR 1,486

$5.54 PKR 1,534

-3.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 PKR 744

$3.57 PKR 987

-24.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.19 PKR 1,436

$6.73 PKR 1,864

-22.88%

Cappuccino

$1.87 PKR 518

$2.64 PKR 730

-29.17%

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

$0.17 PKR 47.31

$0.32 PKR 89.6

-46.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.10 PKR 28.15

$0.23 PKR 63.7

-56.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.94 PKR 259

-34.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.72 PKR 200

-29.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.30 PKR 361

-27.69%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 298

$1.22 PKR 339

-11.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 PKR 1,890

$6.05 PKR 1,674

12.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 PKR 689

$3.09 PKR 855

-19.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.71 PKR 1,028

$5.35 PKR 1,482

-30.65%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 246

$1.26 PKR 350

-29.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.87 PKR 241

-45.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 76.6

$1.04 PKR 288

-73.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 159

$0.53 PKR 146

9.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.29 PKR 81.2

27.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.36 PKR 99.4

27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.28 PKR 76.4

78.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$0.39 PKR 108

-10.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.95 PKR 539

-7.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$1.19 PKR 331

-21.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 649

$2.68 PKR 743

-12.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 PKR 610

$2.24 PKR 619

-1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.99

$0.16 PKR 43.07

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.17 PKR 3,092

$21.34 PKR 5,905

-47.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 PKR 388

$1.24 PKR 344

12.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.74 PKR 204

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 246

$1.60 PKR 442

-44.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.37 PKR 378

-25.55%

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

$24.9K PKR 6.9M

$54.5K PKR 15.1M

-54.34%

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

$26.4K PKR 7.3M

$23.9K PKR 6.6M

10.81%

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

$147 PKR 40.8K

$103 PKR 28.6K

42.65%

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

$5.02 PKR 1,388

$5.99 PKR 1,658

-16.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.95 PKR 5,246

$17.15 PKR 4,746

10.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.93 PKR 4,132

$28.20 PKR 7,806

-47.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.71 PKR 2,134

$8.47 PKR 2,344

-8.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,202

$4.43 PKR 1,226

-2.03%

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

$12.74 PKR 3,525

$75.7 PKR 20.9K

-83.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,027 PKR 284.3K

$5,004 PKR 1.4M

-79.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.66 PKR 2,950

$25.72 PKR 7,118

-58.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.80 PKR 3,544

$34.48 PKR 9,543

-62.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.60 PKR 7,086

$95.5 PKR 26.4K

-73.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.50 PKR 4,014

$41.32 PKR 11.4K

-64.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.2K

$276 PKR 76.5K

-57.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

$139 PKR 38.3K

-44.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 PKR 70.9K

$572 PKR 158.2K

-55.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.9K

$270 PKR 74.9K

-44.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,069 PKR 295.8K

$1,629 PKR 450.8K

-34.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$530 PKR 146.8K

$836 PKR 231.5K

-36.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$380 PKR 105.2K

-71.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

-0.61%

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

Last update for Pakpattan: October 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pakpattan

$171 38.2%

Islamabad

$126 21.1% 26.2% $45

Groceries & Markets

Pakpattan

$83 18.5%

Islamabad

$102 17% 23.1% $19

Accommodation & Living

Pakpattan

$76 17.1%

Islamabad

$139 23.1% 81.3% $62

Eating Out

Pakpattan

$50 11.2%

Islamabad

$80 13.3% 59.2% $30

Clothing & Footwear

Pakpattan

$29 6.4%

Islamabad

$89 14.8% 210% $60

Sport & Entertainment

Pakpattan

$24 5.3%

Islamabad

$37 6.2% 56.9% $13

Getting Around

Pakpattan

$15 3.4%

Islamabad

$27 4.5% 77.6% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Pakpattan versus $276 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 254% 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 Pakpattan versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $83.0 vs $102 – making Pakpattan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇰 Pakpattan

🇵🇰 Islamabad

🕒 Local time

03:30 3:30 AM

Same time as Pakpattan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

176,693

1,009,832 Capital

💱 Currency

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Pakpattan Islamabad 370 km

From you

Pakpattan
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Pakpattan vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 34%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $672 per month in Pakpattan and $899 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 23% 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 Pakpattan and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $448 in Pakpattan and $599 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Pakpattan – 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 Pakpattan. 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.