🙂A single person spends $369 per month in Pattoki vs $532 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $539 per month in Pattoki vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $708 per month in Pattoki vs $1,136 in Islamabad, rent included.
🙂Pattoki is about 31% 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
$2.10PKR 583
$2.89PKR 803
-27.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.59PKR 2,385
$14.11PKR 3,916
-39.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.26PKR 1,459
$5.43PKR 1,508
-3.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80PKR 501
$1.76PKR 488
2.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15PKR 873
$3.79PKR 1,051
-16.89%
Cappuccino
$1.38PKR 382
$1.98PKR 550
-30.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 84.5
$0.39PKR 108
-23.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.9
$0.22PKR 60.8
-4.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49PKR 137
$1.02PKR 284
-51.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.37PKR 104
$0.62PKR 172
-40.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.68PKR 189
$1.22PKR 339
-44.26%
Eggs
$0.76PKR 210
$1.22PKR 338
-37.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.44PKR 400
$6.04PKR 1,677
-76.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.58PKR 717
$3.37PKR 936
-23.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.18PKR 883
$4.47PKR 1,239
-28.86%
Apples(1kg)
$0.34PKR 93.3
$1.00PKR 278
-66.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.34PKR 93.9
$0.84PKR 233
-59.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58PKR 162
$0.93PKR 259
-37.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 143
$0.57PKR 157
-8.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.41PKR 115
-9.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.3
$0.58PKR 160
-41.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.1
$0.33PKR 91.8
3.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.37PKR 104
-2.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.83PKR 507
$1.90PKR 528
-3.68%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 93.4
$0.85PKR 236
-60.00%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85PKR 513
$1.96PKR 543
-5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01PKR 557
$2.10PKR 584
-4.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 47.55
$0.16PKR 43.35
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.04PKR 1,953
$7.18PKR 1,993
-1.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05PKR 291
$0.84PKR 233
25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 148
$0.44PKR 122
20.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.45PKR 403
$2.87PKR 796
-49.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99PKR 275
$0.93PKR 257
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KPKR 6.2M
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
6.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KPKR 6.2M
$26.3KPKR 7.3M
-14.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105PKR 29.2K
$113PKR 31.4K
-6.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.65PKR 1,291
$5.39PKR 1,495
-13.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.56PKR 3,763
$18.61PKR 5,165
-27.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.35PKR 3,427
$22.80PKR 6,329
-45.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.79PKR 1,607
$6.02PKR 1,671
-3.82%
Cinema Ticket
$2.68PKR 743
$4.35PKR 1,209
-38.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.27PKR 10.1K
$60.5PKR 16.8K
-40.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,751PKR 485.8K
$2,790PKR 774.2K
-37.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.71PKR 4,639
$21.18PKR 5,878
-21.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.52PKR 7,638
$28.13PKR 7,807
-2.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.5PKR 19.3K
$90.0PKR 25.0K
-22.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.60PKR 8,216
$40.15PKR 11.1K
-26.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.9PKR 21.1K
$197PKR 54.8K
-61.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.3PKR 14.5K
$110PKR 30.5K
-52.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$168PKR 46.6K
$513PKR 142.4K
-67.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$104PKR 28.9K
$299PKR 83.1K
-65.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$908PKR 252.1K
$1,569PKR 435.5K
-42.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$480PKR 133.3K
$647PKR 179.5K
-25.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattoki
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$387PKR 107.5K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Pattoki versus $197 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 $99.0 – 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 44%, 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 $553 per month in Pattoki and $798 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 73% 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 $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 $369 in Pattoki and $532 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.