Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $346 per month in Quetta vs $532 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $537 per month in Quetta vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $728 per month in Quetta vs $1,136 in Islamabad, rent included.

Quetta is about 35% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Quetta and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 74% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.52 PKR 977

$2.89 PKR 803

21.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,950

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-24.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 PKR 1,216

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-19.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.76 PKR 488

-2.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 431

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-59.10%

Cappuccino

$1.70 PKR 471

$1.98 PKR 550

-14.14%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.39 PKR 108

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.4

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.02 PKR 284

-27.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.62 PKR 172

-25.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.22 PKR 339

-15.57%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.22 PKR 338

-8.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.92 PKR 1,644

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-1.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 716

$3.37 PKR 936

-23.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.12 PKR 1,143

$4.47 PKR 1,239

-7.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.00 PKR 278

4.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.84 PKR 233

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.93 PKR 259

-38.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.57 PKR 157

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.2

$0.41 PKR 115

-24.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.58 PKR 160

-17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.33 PKR 91.8

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.37 PKR 104

-13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 402

$1.90 PKR 528

-23.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

$0.85 PKR 236

-60.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 PKR 581

$1.96 PKR 543

6.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.69 PKR 192

$2.10 PKR 584

-67.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.93

$0.16 PKR 43.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.23 PKR 1,453

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-27.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.84 PKR 233

-57.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 171

$0.44 PKR 122

40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.87 PKR 796

-39.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 268

$0.93 PKR 257

4.30%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

2.17%

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

$12.1K PKR 3.4M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-53.89%

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

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-53.46%

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

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$5.39 PKR 1,495

18.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.32 PKR 3,975

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-23.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.96 PKR 1,378

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-78.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.76 PKR 1,600

$6.02 PKR 1,671

-4.32%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 PKR 805

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-33.33%

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

$34.09 PKR 9,461

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-43.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$417 PKR 115.7K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-85.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$6.98 PKR 1,937

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-67.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.24 PKR 2,010

$28.13 PKR 7,806

-74.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 PKR 24.2K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-3.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.59 PKR 8,213

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-26.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

$197 PKR 54.8K

-64.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.30 PKR 13.7K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-55.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-69.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.5 PKR 26.8K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-67.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.2K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-76.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$214 PKR 59.3K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-66.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 PKR 75.3K

$387 PKR 107.5K

-30.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-40.59%

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

Last update for Quetta: July 28, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.8 in Quetta 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.

Salaries run about 43% 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 Quetta versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $99.0 – making Quetta 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

Quetta vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 54%, 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 $519 per month in Quetta and $798 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 Quetta and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $346 in Quetta and $532 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quetta – 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 Quetta. 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.