Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakpattan and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakpattan and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $406 per month in Pakpattan vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $597 per month in Pakpattan vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $788 per month in Pakpattan vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Pakpattan is about 23% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pakpattan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Pakpattan 70% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 PKR 606

$2.80 PKR 779

-22.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.78 PKR 2,444

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-38.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 PKR 1,482

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-2.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 479

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 PKR 901

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-19.00%

Cappuccino

$1.37 PKR 382

$2.00 PKR 557

-31.50%

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

$0.28 PKR 77.6

$0.43 PKR 119

-34.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 48.64

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-22.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.94 PKR 260

-38.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.62 PKR 173

-9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.21 PKR 338

-13.22%

Eggs

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.20 PKR 335

-9.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.75 PKR 1,321

$6.07 PKR 1,689

-21.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 PKR 722

$3.39 PKR 942

-23.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.04 PKR 846

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-30.59%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.03 PKR 287

-5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.78 PKR 216

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.93 PKR 260

-36.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.60 PKR 166

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.41 PKR 115

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.54 PKR 149

-22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.34 PKR 93.3

64.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.37 PKR 103

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.84 PKR 513

$1.93 PKR 537

-4.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PKR 453

$0.90 PKR 251

81.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.99 PKR 552

-4.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 539

$2.14 PKR 596

-9.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.3

$0.19 PKR 52.2

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.88 PKR 1,913

$6.90 PKR 1,921

-0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.86 PKR 238

19.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.44 PKR 122

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 PKR 402

$2.81 PKR 782

-48.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PKR 281

$0.91 PKR 253

10.99%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

3.20%

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

$22.1K PKR 6.1M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-15.65%

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

$105 PKR 29.1K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-6.25%

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

$4.93 PKR 1,370

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-9.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.99 PKR 3,893

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-25.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.40 PKR 3,448

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-44.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.87 PKR 1,633

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-2.81%

Cinema Ticket

$2.59 PKR 722

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-38.48%

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

$36.33 PKR 10.1K

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-39.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,751 PKR 487.0K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-37.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.49 PKR 4,588

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-23.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.39 PKR 7,618

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-0.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 PKR 19.2K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-21.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.62 PKR 7,963

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-28.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.3 PKR 20.7K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-62.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-54.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.4K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-67.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-64.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,075 PKR 299.2K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-30.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-21.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-72.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.43

20.2

-13.71%

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

Last update for Pakpattan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.3 in Pakpattan versus $198 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 266% 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 $9.00 in Pakpattan versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $79.0 vs $98.0 – making Pakpattan 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

Pakpattan vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $610 per month in Pakpattan and $794 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 24% 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 $9.00 in Pakpattan and $14.00 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 $406 in Pakpattan and $529 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.