🙂A single person spends $378 per month in Pattoki vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $544 per month in Pattoki vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $711 per month in Pattoki vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂Pattoki is about 29% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Pattoki and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Pattoki72% lower, Islamabad60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.07PKR 575
$2.89PKR 804
-28.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.00PKR 2,502
$14.01PKR 3,894
-35.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.36PKR 1,489
$5.35PKR 1,487
0.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73PKR 482
$1.75PKR 487
-1.14%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15PKR 876
$3.97PKR 1,105
-20.65%
Cappuccino
$1.38PKR 385
$2.02PKR 561
-31.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 83.4
$0.39PKR 110
-23.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18PKR 49.94
$0.22PKR 61.1
-18.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.47PKR 130
$1.02PKR 284
-53.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41PKR 113
$0.66PKR 184
-37.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.69PKR 192
$1.27PKR 353
-45.67%
Eggs
$0.76PKR 212
$1.23PKR 341
-38.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.43PKR 398
$6.02PKR 1,675
-76.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.56PKR 712
$3.41PKR 948
-24.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.14PKR 873
$4.53PKR 1,260
-30.68%
Apples(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.3
$1.03PKR 288
-66.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.33PKR 92.6
$0.84PKR 233
-60.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.53PKR 148
$0.90PKR 251
-41.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 146
$0.55PKR 153
-5.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 92.5
$0.38PKR 106
-13.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34PKR 93.2
$0.56PKR 156
-39.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.30PKR 84.6
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.41PKR 113
-12.20%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.88PKR 523
$1.99PKR 553
-5.53%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 93.0
$0.93PKR 257
-64.52%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91PKR 530
$2.01PKR 560
-4.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 529
$2.15PKR 598
-11.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 48.90
$0.19PKR 52.8
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.19PKR 2,000
$6.95PKR 1,933
3.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07PKR 298
$0.85PKR 236
25.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.41PKR 113
19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.38PKR 383
$2.81PKR 781
-50.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 266
$0.95PKR 264
1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KPKR 6.2M
$21.2KPKR 5.9M
5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
$26.0KPKR 7.2M
-14.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.8K
$112PKR 31.1K
-7.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.87PKR 1,355
$5.36PKR 1,492
-9.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.56PKR 3,769
$18.59PKR 5,168
-27.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.41PKR 3,451
$22.15PKR 6,158
-43.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.90PKR 1,639
$5.89PKR 1,638
0.17%
Cinema Ticket
$2.57PKR 715
$4.34PKR 1,206
-40.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.27PKR 10.1K
$59.4PKR 16.5K
-38.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,737PKR 482.9K
$2,783PKR 773.8K
-37.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.57PKR 4,607
$21.12PKR 5,873
-21.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.06PKR 7,802
$27.99PKR 7,782
0.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.8PKR 19.1K
$87.7PKR 24.4K
-21.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.38PKR 8,169
$39.46PKR 11.0K
-25.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.4PKR 21.0K
$201PKR 56.0K
-62.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.0PKR 14.2K
$112PKR 31.0K
-54.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$169PKR 47.0K
$515PKR 143.2K
-67.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106PKR 29.4K
$298PKR 82.9K
-64.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$878PKR 244.2K
$1,567PKR 435.8K
-43.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$456PKR 126.7K
$646PKR 179.6K
-29.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$378PKR 105.1K
-
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 Pattoki: June 8, 2026
Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.4 in Pattoki versus $201 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 $9.00 in Pattoki versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $57.0 vs $100 – 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 41%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $567 per month in Pattoki and $799 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 Islamabad?
Groceries cost about 76% 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 Islamabad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Pattoki and $14.00 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 $378 in Pattoki and $533 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.