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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $348 per month in Quetta vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $548 per month in Quetta vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $747 per month in Quetta vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

Quetta is about 36% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Quetta and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 74% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 PKR 962

$2.87 PKR 801

20.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.48 PKR 2,922

$14.22 PKR 3,963

-26.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,264

$5.23 PKR 1,459

-13.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.74 PKR 486

4.02%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 433

$3.82 PKR 1,066

-59.42%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 463

$2.05 PKR 573

-19.02%

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

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.39 PKR 109

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.22 PKR 61.2

-9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.96 PKR 267

-29.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.61 PKR 171

-27.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.27 PKR 355

-18.90%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 314

$1.21 PKR 337

-6.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,723

$6.17 PKR 1,720

0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 PKR 721

$3.49 PKR 973

-25.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.21 PKR 1,174

$4.39 PKR 1,225

-4.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.03 PKR 288

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.82 PKR 230

-36.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.94 PKR 263

-40.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.56 PKR 155

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.0

$0.38 PKR 106

-18.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.53 PKR 147

-5.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.1

$0.33 PKR 92.5

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.4

$0.37 PKR 104

-13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 403

$1.96 PKR 547

-26.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.92 PKR 255

-63.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 PKR 585

$1.98 PKR 552

6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.69 PKR 193

$2.07 PKR 578

-66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.3

$0.17 PKR 46.57

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.42 PKR 1,512

$6.98 PKR 1,945

-22.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.92 PKR 255

-59.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.41 PKR 113

58.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.75 PKR 767

-33.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.98 PKR 274

-2.04%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-0.75%

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

$12.4K PKR 3.5M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-52.37%

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

$53.8 PKR 15.0K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-51.71%

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

$6.39 PKR 1,781

$5.52 PKR 1,538

15.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.35 PKR 4,001

$18.67 PKR 5,203

-23.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.99 PKR 1,390

$22.27 PKR 6,207

-77.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 PKR 1,673

$5.85 PKR 1,630

2.56%

Cinema Ticket

$2.80 PKR 780

$4.14 PKR 1,153

-32.37%

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

$34.87 PKR 9,721

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-42.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$426 PKR 118.6K

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

-84.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.22 PKR 2,013

$21.34 PKR 5,948

-66.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.20 PKR 2,007

$28.33 PKR 7,898

-74.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 PKR 24.4K

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

-2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.40 PKR 8,196

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-28.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.0 PKR 19.8K

$200 PKR 55.7K

-64.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$48.89 PKR 13.6K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-56.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 PKR 44.5K

$513 PKR 143.0K

-68.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.4 PKR 27.4K

$288 PKR 80.4K

-65.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$384 PKR 107.0K

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

-74.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$221 PKR 61.6K

$740 PKR 206.3K

-70.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 PKR 60.2K

$307 PKR 85.7K

-29.72%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.0 in Quetta versus $200 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 42% 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 $10.00 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 56%, 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 $522 per month in Quetta and $814 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 $10.00 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 $348 in Quetta and $543 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.