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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $420 per month in Quetta vs $593 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $617 per month in Quetta vs $929 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $814 per month in Quetta vs $1,264 in Islamabad, rent included.

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

Both Quetta and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 69% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.70 PKR 1,026

$3.56 PKR 985

3.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,987

$23.22 PKR 6,431

-53.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,255

$5.44 PKR 1,507

-16.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-51.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$6.73 PKR 1,866

-21.69%

Cappuccino

$1.59 PKR 442

$2.51 PKR 694

-36.65%

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

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.33 PKR 90.1

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.21 PKR 58.2

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.94 PKR 261

-26.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.75 PKR 209

-25.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.25 PKR 347

-1.60%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.21 PKR 335

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 PKR 1,366

$6.06 PKR 1,679

-18.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 785

$3.20 PKR 886

-11.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,419

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-6.23%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.25 PKR 346

-25.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.81 PKR 224

-29.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 190

$1.03 PKR 286

-33.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.52 PKR 145

5.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.0

$0.26 PKR 71.2

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.33 PKR 90.7

69.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.30 PKR 83.6

43.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.42 PKR 118

-7.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

$2.01 PKR 556

-12.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.24 PKR 343

-12.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PKR 788

$2.59 PKR 719

9.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 PKR 579

$2.32 PKR 641

-9.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 PKR 36.35

$0.20 PKR 55.7

-35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.27 PKR 2,845

$21.86 PKR 6,057

-53.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.29 PKR 358

-19.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.74 PKR 205

-41.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 493

$1.61 PKR 445

10.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.25 PKR 348

-14.40%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-55.65%

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

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-1.46%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$104 PKR 28.9K

-1.45%

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

$8.11 PKR 2,246

$5.88 PKR 1,628

37.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.41 PKR 4,547

$16.18 PKR 4,481

1.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.78 PKR 1,602

$28.70 PKR 7,951

-79.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 PKR 923

$4.37 PKR 1,210

-23.80%

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

$34.78 PKR 9,635

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

-53.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$995 PKR 275.5K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.08 PKR 2,237

$25.08 PKR 6,947

-67.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.81 PKR 6,318

$35.11 PKR 9,727

-35.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-27.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.10 PKR 9,446

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

-14.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-74.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-64.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-71.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-64.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.3K

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

-76.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$219 PKR 60.6K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-73.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 PKR 75.9K

$379 PKR 104.9K

-27.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

13.08

-1.53%

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

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.4 in Quetta versus $278 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 38% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $103 – 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 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 $630 per month in Quetta and $890 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 16% 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 $23.00 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 $420 in Quetta and $593 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.