Cost of Living Comparison Between Rahim Yar Khan and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Rahim Yar Khan and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $437 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $860 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Rahim Yar Khan is about 26% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rahim Yar Khan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Rahim Yar Khan 68% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.45 PKR 403

$3.57 PKR 989

-59.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.86 PKR 3,010

$22.74 PKR 6,304

-52.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 PKR 1,231

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-18.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 763

$3.55 PKR 985

-22.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 PKR 1,416

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-23.85%

Cappuccino

$0.82 PKR 227

$2.39 PKR 663

-65.69%

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

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.32 PKR 90.0

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.2

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.99 PKR 275

-26.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.79 PKR 219

-45.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 PKR 197

$1.28 PKR 354

-44.53%

Eggs

$1.09 PKR 301

$1.28 PKR 356

-14.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.31 PKR 916

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-45.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.47 PKR 685

$3.06 PKR 848

-19.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-16.41%

Apples (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$1.34 PKR 371

-64.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.84 PKR 232

-54.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$1.02 PKR 282

-45.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.1

$0.49 PKR 135

-30.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.7

$0.29 PKR 81.1

20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.8

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.18 PKR 49.95

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 PKR 74.5

$0.38 PKR 106

-28.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.90 PKR 528

-4.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 PKR 797

$2.35 PKR 651

22.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.28 PKR 632

-3.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 PKR 33.26

$0.16 PKR 44.28

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 PKR 207

$1.27 PKR 353

-40.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.2

$0.69 PKR 191

-49.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 PKR 617

$1.65 PKR 458

35.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.32 PKR 365

-22.73%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-53.19%

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

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-7.11%

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

$143 PKR 39.7K

$102 PKR 28.3K

40.22%

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

$4.88 PKR 1,352

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-16.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.19 PKR 3,935

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-13.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.75 PKR 2,704

$29.09 PKR 8,065

-66.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.77 PKR 4,925

$8.93 PKR 2,477

98.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 PKR 1,229

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-11.58%

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

$19.08 PKR 5,290

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-74.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,018 PKR 282.2K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-79.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.04 PKR 3,060

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-53.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 PKR 5,028

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-44.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 PKR 25.5K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

10.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.70 PKR 7,125

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-34.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-54.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.9 PKR 25.5K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-36.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 PKR 76.0K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-52.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-31.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$550 PKR 152.4K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-66.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$443 PKR 122.9K

$829 PKR 229.9K

-46.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$90.9 PKR 25.2K

$381 PKR 105.7K

-76.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.5

13.08

-4.43%

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

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $277 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 320% 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 Rahim Yar Khan versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $68.0 vs $103 – making Rahim Yar Khan 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

Rahim Yar Khan vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $656 per month in Rahim Yar Khan and $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rahim Yar Khan and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Rahim Yar Khan – 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 Rahim Yar Khan. 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.