🙂A single person spends $498 per month in Pattoki vs $604 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $719 per month in Pattoki vs $939 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $939 per month in Pattoki vs $1,275 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂Pattoki is about 17% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Pattoki and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Pattoki64% lower, Islamabad56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.47PKR 685
$3.49PKR 968
-29.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.02PKR 3,052
$22.94PKR 6,356
-51.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.26PKR 1,456
$5.54PKR 1,535
-5.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67PKR 740
$3.67PKR 1,017
-27.25%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29PKR 1,465
$6.69PKR 1,854
-20.93%
Cappuccino
$1.86PKR 516
$2.57PKR 711
-27.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 83.8
$0.35PKR 97.3
-14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19PKR 52.3
$0.23PKR 63.9
-17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72PKR 199
$0.93PKR 259
-22.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53PKR 147
$0.79PKR 218
-32.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08PKR 299
$1.24PKR 344
-12.90%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 307
$1.27PKR 350
-12.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.99PKR 1,936
$6.18PKR 1,712
13.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.40PKR 665
$3.17PKR 879
-24.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.34PKR 1,202
$5.51PKR 1,527
-21.23%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90PKR 250
$1.29PKR 358
-30.23%
Banana(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.86PKR 239
-43.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.71PKR 198
$1.01PKR 280
-29.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58PKR 160
$0.49PKR 134
18.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.26PKR 71.4
53.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44PKR 121
$0.33PKR 90.2
33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46PKR 127
$0.28PKR 76.6
64.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.40PKR 110
-7.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.81PKR 500
$1.98PKR 550
-8.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06PKR 295
$1.19PKR 330
-10.92%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83PKR 783
$2.68PKR 742
5.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19PKR 606
$2.40PKR 665
-8.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 54.4
$0.19PKR 53.4
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05PKR 2,784
$21.97PKR 6,086
-54.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47PKR 407
$1.29PKR 358
13.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37PKR 104
$0.74PKR 206
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 253
$1.57PKR 435
-42.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15PKR 319
$1.30PKR 359
-11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KPKR 6.8M
$53.1KPKR 14.7M
-53.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KPKR 7.4M
$24.4KPKR 6.8M
8.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142PKR 39.3K
$102PKR 28.4K
38.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.99PKR 1,382
$5.83PKR 1,616
-14.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.22PKR 5,323
$15.65PKR 4,336
22.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.81PKR 4,103
$27.66PKR 7,662
-46.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.86PKR 2,456
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.34PKR 1,202
$4.31PKR 1,194
0.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$41.76PKR 11.6K
$74.9PKR 20.7K
-44.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,006PKR 278.7K
$5,069PKR 1.4M
-80.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.26PKR 5,060
$24.79PKR 6,868
-26.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.79PKR 5,206
$34.54PKR 9,569
-45.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6PKR 25.9K
$96.3PKR 26.7K
-2.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.37PKR 7,029
$39.98PKR 11.1K
-36.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126PKR 34.9K
$270PKR 74.7K
-53.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.9PKR 21.6K
$140PKR 38.7K
-44.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256PKR 71.0K
$598PKR 165.6K
-57.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$151PKR 41.7K
$281PKR 77.9K
-46.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$899PKR 249.2K
$1,685PKR 466.9K
-46.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$507PKR 140.6K
$817PKR 226.3K
-37.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$373PKR 103.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13
13.08
-0.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pattoki: September 5, 2026
Last update for Islamabad: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Pattoki versus $270 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Pattoki versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $104 – making Pattoki 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
Pattoki vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Islamabad cheaper than Pattoki?
Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $747 per month in Pattoki and $905 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pattoki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Pattoki and in Islamabad?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Pattoki or in Islamabad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Pattoki and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Pattoki or Islamabad?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $498 in Pattoki and $604 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Pattoki or Islamabad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pattoki – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pattoki or Islamabad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pattoki. 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.