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 $368 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $532 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $696 per month in Rahim Yar Khan vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Rahim Yar Khan is about 31% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rahim Yar Khan and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Rahim Yar Khan 72% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.85 PKR 791

-38.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.91 PKR 2,474

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-37.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.20 PKR 890

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-41.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$1.72 PKR 477

2.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 PKR 906

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-14.66%

Cappuccino

$0.89 PKR 248

$1.97 PKR 547

-54.82%

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

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.40 PKR 110

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 45.10

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.96 PKR 268

-38.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.66 PKR 183

-10.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$1.28 PKR 355

-16.41%

Eggs

$1.07 PKR 297

$1.20 PKR 334

-10.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.26 PKR 1,183

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-29.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.16 PKR 600

$3.37 PKR 937

-35.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.15 PKR 875

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-27.59%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.04 PKR 289

-17.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.84 PKR 234

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.91 PKR 253

-36.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.56 PKR 156

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.41 PKR 115

-2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.57 PKR 158

-31.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.31 PKR 85.4

96.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PKR 79.4

$0.41 PKR 113

-29.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.88 PKR 521

$2.00 PKR 555

-6.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PKR 435

$0.93 PKR 258

68.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 PKR 539

$2.04 PKR 567

-4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 PKR 557

$2.14 PKR 595

-6.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 PKR 42.71

$0.17 PKR 46.51

-11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,915

$7.22 PKR 2,006

-4.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 301

$0.85 PKR 236

27.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.43 PKR 120

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 PKR 398

$2.79 PKR 775

-48.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 277

$0.98 PKR 271

2.04%

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

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

7.34%

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

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-15.24%

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

$105 PKR 29.0K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-8.02%

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

$3.13 PKR 870

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-42.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.57 PKR 3,767

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-27.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.31 PKR 3,972

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-35.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.96 PKR 1,656

$6.12 PKR 1,699

-2.61%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 PKR 749

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-34.78%

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

$17.70 PKR 4,914

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-70.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$880 PKR 244.3K

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

-68.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.56 PKR 3,489

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-40.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.30 PKR 5,915

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-22.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-39.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.66 PKR 7,959

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-30.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$79.8 PKR 22.2K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-59.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.0 PKR 16.9K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-44.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 PKR 31.4K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-77.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.5K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-68.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$529 PKR 146.9K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-65.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 PKR 122.8K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-31.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$90.9 PKR 25.3K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-76.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.43

20.2

-13.71%

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

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $199 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 323% 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 $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $75.0 vs $100 – 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 45%, 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 $552 per month in Rahim Yar Khan and $801 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.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $368 in Rahim Yar Khan and $534 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.