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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $379 per month in Peshawar vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $564 per month in Peshawar vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $749 per month in Peshawar vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Peshawar is about 28% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Peshawar and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Peshawar 72% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 PKR 621

$2.80 PKR 779

-20.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.77 PKR 2,995

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-24.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-34.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.72 PKR 478

-16.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PKR 758

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-31.75%

Cappuccino

$1.77 PKR 492

$2.00 PKR 557

-11.50%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.8

$0.43 PKR 119

-34.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 47.72

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-22.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 227

$0.94 PKR 260

-12.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.62 PKR 173

-1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.21 PKR 338

-7.44%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 346

$1.20 PKR 335

3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.36 PKR 935

$6.07 PKR 1,689

-44.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 855

$3.39 PKR 942

-9.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.66 PKR 1,017

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-16.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.03 PKR 287

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.78 PKR 216

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.93 PKR 260

4.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 126

$0.60 PKR 166

-25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.41 PKR 115

-4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.54 PKR 149

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.1

$0.37 PKR 103

-13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.75 PKR 208

$1.93 PKR 537

-61.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 PKR 435

$0.90 PKR 251

73.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 969

$1.99 PKR 552

74.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 PKR 502

$2.14 PKR 596

-15.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.28

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,918

$6.90 PKR 1,920

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.86 PKR 238

-20.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.44 PKR 122

70.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.81 PKR 782

-35.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.91 PKR 253

9.89%

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

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-44.66%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-12.87%

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

$96.3 PKR 26.8K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-13.79%

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

$4.24 PKR 1,179

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-22.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.89 PKR 3,028

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-42.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.91 PKR 2,757

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-55.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 PKR 1,913

$6.04 PKR 1,679

13.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,191

$4.21 PKR 1,171

1.66%

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

$30.41 PKR 8,459

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-49.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$519 PKR 144.5K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-81.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.14 PKR 3,656

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-39.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 PKR 5,346

$27.63 PKR 7,685

-30.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.29 PKR 10.7K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-56.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.48 PKR 9,035

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-18.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.2K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-39.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 PKR 57.4K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-59.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-67.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-55.45%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $119 in Peshawar versus $198 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 124% 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 $98.0 – 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 40%, 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 $569 per month in Peshawar and $794 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 20% 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 $379 in Peshawar and $529 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.