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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $352 per month in Quetta vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $550 per month in Quetta vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $748 per month in Quetta vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.

Quetta is about 34% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 PKR 960

$2.89 PKR 804

19.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.69 PKR 2,972

$14.01 PKR 3,894

-23.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.40 PKR 1,223

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-17.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.75 PKR 487

2.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 PKR 435

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-60.45%

Cappuccino

$1.62 PKR 449

$2.02 PKR 561

-19.80%

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.39 PKR 110

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 207

$1.02 PKR 284

-27.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 129

$0.66 PKR 184

-30.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$1.27 PKR 353

-15.75%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.23 PKR 341

-12.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 PKR 1,652

$6.02 PKR 1,675

-1.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 PKR 691

$3.41 PKR 948

-26.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 PKR 1,178

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-6.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$1.03 PKR 288

3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.84 PKR 233

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.90 PKR 251

-36.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.55 PKR 153

-5.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 80.6

$0.38 PKR 106

-23.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.56 PKR 156

-10.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.30 PKR 84.6

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 83.3

$0.41 PKR 113

-26.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 395

$1.99 PKR 553

-28.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.93 PKR 257

-61.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 PKR 598

$2.01 PKR 560

6.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.72 PKR 201

$2.15 PKR 598

-66.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.40

$0.19 PKR 52.8

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.36 PKR 1,491

$6.95 PKR 1,933

-22.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.85 PKR 236

-61.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.41 PKR 113

58.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 479

$2.81 PKR 781

-38.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.95 PKR 264

1.05%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

1.75%

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

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-52.92%

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

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.02%

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

$6.38 PKR 1,774

$5.36 PKR 1,492

19.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.98 PKR 3,887

$18.59 PKR 5,168

-24.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.09 PKR 1,415

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-77.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 PKR 1,614

$5.89 PKR 1,638

-1.36%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 PKR 804

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-33.41%

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

$35.09 PKR 9,756

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-40.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$424 PKR 117.8K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-84.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$21.12 PKR 5,873

-65.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-75.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

2.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.19 PKR 8,116

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-26.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-65.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-54.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 PKR 43.7K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-69.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-67.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$381 PKR 106.0K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-75.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$220 PKR 61.3K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-65.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 PKR 59.3K

$378 PKR 105.1K

-43.64%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.9 in Quetta versus $201 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 77% 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 $100 – 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 51%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $527 per month in Quetta and $799 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 19% 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 $352 in Quetta and $533 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.