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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $417 per month in Peshawar vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $600 per month in Peshawar vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $783 per month in Peshawar vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Peshawar is about 29% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Peshawar and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Peshawar 70% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 PKR 681

$3.57 PKR 990

-31.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.76 PKR 2,431

$22.74 PKR 6,309

-61.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 PKR 1,324

$5.47 PKR 1,517

-12.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 PKR 614

$3.55 PKR 986

-37.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 PKR 796

$6.71 PKR 1,862

-57.23%

Cappuccino

$1.25 PKR 346

$2.39 PKR 663

-47.70%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.32 PKR 90.0

-3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 45.46

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-27.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.99 PKR 275

-1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.79 PKR 220

-6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.28 PKR 354

-15.62%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.28 PKR 356

-12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.45 PKR 957

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-43.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 861

$3.06 PKR 849

1.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$5.12 PKR 1,421

-28.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.34 PKR 371

-8.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.84 PKR 232

-39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$1.02 PKR 282

-38.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.49 PKR 135

-6.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.0

$0.29 PKR 81.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.5

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 68.5

$0.38 PKR 106

-34.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.94 PKR 540

$1.90 PKR 528

2.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.38 PKR 383

-49.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

$2.35 PKR 652

-68.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 PKR 512

$2.28 PKR 632

-18.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.16 PKR 44.31

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 PKR 3,516

$21.23 PKR 5,889

-40.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$1.27 PKR 353

-13.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.69 PKR 191

1.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 PKR 404

$1.65 PKR 459

-11.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.32 PKR 365

-15.91%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-57.67%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-0.43%

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

$101 PKR 28.2K

$102 PKR 28.3K

-0.61%

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

$5.77 PKR 1,600

$5.83 PKR 1,618

-1.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.47 PKR 4,016

$16.34 PKR 4,534

-11.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,314

$29.09 PKR 8,071

-46.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,677

$8.93 PKR 2,478

-32.25%

Cinema Ticket

$1.92 PKR 534

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-61.68%

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

$46.40 PKR 12.9K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-38.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,981 PKR 1.4M

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-2.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.10 PKR 1,969

$23.55 PKR 6,532

-69.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.36 PKR 4,540

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-49.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 PKR 14.2K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-38.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.09 PKR 10.8K

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-54.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-45.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$577 PKR 160.1K

-65.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.1K

$266 PKR 73.9K

-55.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-60.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

-15.90%

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

Last update for Peshawar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Peshawar versus $277 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 152% 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 Peshawar versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 vs $103 – 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 41%, 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 $625 per month in Peshawar and $884 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 24% 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 Peshawar and $23.00 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 $417 in Peshawar and $589 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.