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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $401 per month in Pakpattan vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $595 per month in Pakpattan vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $789 per month in Pakpattan vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Pakpattan is about 25% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pakpattan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Pakpattan 70% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 PKR 584

$2.85 PKR 791

-26.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.62 PKR 2,392

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-39.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,452

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-3.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.72 PKR 477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 PKR 869

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-18.06%

Cappuccino

$1.37 PKR 379

$1.97 PKR 547

-30.46%

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

$0.30 PKR 83.3

$0.40 PKR 110

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.6

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.96 PKR 268

-39.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.66 PKR 183

-15.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.28 PKR 355

-18.75%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.20 PKR 334

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 PKR 1,371

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-18.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.47 PKR 685

$3.37 PKR 937

-26.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 837

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-30.57%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.04 PKR 289

-5.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 185

$0.84 PKR 234

-20.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.91 PKR 253

-37.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.56 PKR 156

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.41 PKR 115

-2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.57 PKR 158

-26.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.31 PKR 85.4

77.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.41 PKR 113

-7.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.80 PKR 499

$2.00 PKR 555

-10.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 431

$0.93 PKR 258

66.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 PKR 534

$2.04 PKR 567

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.14 PKR 595

-7.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.75

$0.17 PKR 46.51

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.97 PKR 1,934

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-3.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 298

$0.85 PKR 236

25.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.43 PKR 120

13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 PKR 387

$2.79 PKR 775

-50.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.98 PKR 271

3.06%

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

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

5.28%

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

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-13.86%

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

$105 PKR 29.2K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-7.42%

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

$4.89 PKR 1,359

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-9.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.48 PKR 3,744

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-27.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.57 PKR 3,492

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-43.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-4.74%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 PKR 751

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-34.78%

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

$36.18 PKR 10.0K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-39.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,743 PKR 484.1K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-36.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,674

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-20.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.41 PKR 7,611

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-20.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.01 PKR 8,055

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-29.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-62.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.5K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.3K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-66.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.6K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-64.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$802 PKR 222.7K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-46.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 PKR 133.4K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-25.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-72.47%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $73.9 in Pakpattan versus $199 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 263% 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 $100 – 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 33%, 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 $601 per month in Pakpattan and $801 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 27% 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 $401 in Pakpattan and $534 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.