Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $372 per month in Peshawar vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $554 per month in Peshawar vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $736 per month in Peshawar vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Peshawar is about 30% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Peshawar and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Peshawar 72% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 PKR 651

$2.85 PKR 791

-17.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,985

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-24.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 PKR 1,000

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-33.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 PKR 398

$1.72 PKR 477

-16.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 PKR 725

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-31.68%

Cappuccino

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.97 PKR 547

-7.61%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.8

$0.40 PKR 110

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 49.00

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 225

$0.96 PKR 268

-15.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.66 PKR 183

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.28 PKR 355

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.20 PKR 334

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.38 PKR 939

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-44.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 PKR 872

$3.37 PKR 937

-6.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.78 PKR 1,051

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-13.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.04 PKR 289

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.84 PKR 234

-27.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.56 PKR 156

-23.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.41 PKR 115

-2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.57 PKR 158

-21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.31 PKR 85.4

-22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.8

$0.41 PKR 113

-21.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.68 PKR 190

$2.00 PKR 555

-66.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PKR 452

$0.93 PKR 258

75.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 999

$2.04 PKR 567

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 PKR 522

$2.14 PKR 595

-12.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.17 PKR 46.51

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,918

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-4.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.85 PKR 236

-18.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.43 PKR 120

69.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.79 PKR 775

-35.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.98 PKR 271

2.04%

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

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-42.84%

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

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-13.03%

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

$98.5 PKR 27.3K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-13.41%

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

$4.32 PKR 1,201

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-20.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.62 PKR 2,949

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-43.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.96 PKR 2,766

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-54.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 PKR 1,850

$6.12 PKR 1,698

8.82%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 PKR 1,164

$4.14 PKR 1,150

1.21%

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

$29.39 PKR 8,162

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-51.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$518 PKR 143.7K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-81.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.06 PKR 3,628

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-38.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 PKR 5,447

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-29.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.69 PKR 10.7K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-55.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.49 PKR 9,022

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-20.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.2K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-53.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 PKR 56.1K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-59.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.0 PKR 26.4K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-68.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$128 PKR 35.5K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-66.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.17

20.2

4.80%

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

Last update for Peshawar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $120 in Peshawar 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 202% 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 $11.00 in Peshawar versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 vs $100 – making Peshawar 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

Peshawar vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $557 per month in Peshawar 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 Peshawar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $11.00 in Peshawar 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 $372 in Peshawar and $534 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Peshawar – 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 Peshawar. 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.