Cost of Living Comparison Between Sargodha and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sargodha and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $441 per month in Sargodha vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $667 per month in Sargodha vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $892 per month in Sargodha vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sargodha is about 17% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sargodha and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sargodha 67% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39 PKR 386
$2.85 PKR 791
-51.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.21 PKR 3,947
$14.26 PKR 3,960
-0.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 PKR 1,494
$5.44 PKR 1,511
-1.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 PKR 480
$1.72 PKR 477
0.58%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 PKR 1,066
$3.82 PKR 1,061
0.52%
Cappuccino
$2.00 PKR 556
$1.97 PKR 547
1.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.40 PKR 110
5.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 PKR 60.8
$0.24 PKR 67.0
-8.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 PKR 206
$0.96 PKR 268
-22.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 PKR 186
$0.66 PKR 183
1.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 PKR 340
$1.28 PKR 355
-3.91%
Eggs
$0.69 PKR 193
$1.20 PKR 334
-42.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.31 PKR 1,752
$6.07 PKR 1,687
3.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.91 PKR 530
$3.37 PKR 937
-43.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.47 PKR 1,242
$4.35 PKR 1,209
2.76%
Apples (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 152
$1.04 PKR 289
-47.12%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.84 PKR 234
1.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 PKR 262
$0.91 PKR 253
3.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 157
$0.56 PKR 156
1.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 108
$0.41 PKR 115
-4.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 148
$0.57 PKR 158
-7.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 PKR 93.2
$0.31 PKR 85.4
9.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.41 PKR 113
-9.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.46 PKR 407
$2.00 PKR 555
-27.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 PKR 238
$0.93 PKR 258
-7.53%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 PKR 558
$2.04 PKR 567
-1.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 PKR 580
$2.14 PKR 595
-2.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 PKR 42.94
$0.17 PKR 46.51
-11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.26 PKR 2,016
$7.22 PKR 2,005
0.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 PKR 234
$0.85 PKR 236
-1.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 PKR 120
$0.43 PKR 120
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 PKR 774
$2.79 PKR 775
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 PKR 264
$0.98 PKR 271
-3.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K PKR 5.8M
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
0.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K PKR 7.4M
$25.9K PKR 7.2M
2.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 PKR 31.4K
$114 PKR 31.6K
-0.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41 PKR 1,502
$5.41 PKR 1,501
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.97 PKR 5,267
$18.69 PKR 5,190
1.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.25 PKR 3,401
$22.13 PKR 6,144
-44.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.91 PKR 1,640
$6.12 PKR 1,698
-3.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14 PKR 1,149
$4.14 PKR 1,150
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.7 PKR 16.6K
$60.2 PKR 16.7K
-0.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,097 PKR 304.7K
$2,753 PKR 764.4K
-60.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.36 PKR 5,931
$21.08 PKR 5,854
1.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.18 PKR 7,825
$27.64 PKR 7,674
1.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 PKR 24.8K
$87.8 PKR 24.4K
1.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.40 PKR 11.2K
$40.94 PKR 11.4K
-1.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$75.8 PKR 21.0K
$199 PKR 55.3K
-61.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$52.5 PKR 14.6K
$110 PKR 30.5K
-52.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$170 PKR 47.1K
$505 PKR 140.1K
-66.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$105 PKR 29.2K
$299 PKR 83.0K
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$872 PKR 242.0K
$1,513 PKR 420.1K
-42.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$478 PKR 132.8K
$647 PKR 179.8K
-26.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$180 PKR 50.0K
$385 PKR 106.9K
-53.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14
20.2
-30.69%

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

Last update for Sargodha: July 11, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.8 in Sargodha 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 114% 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 $14.00 in Sargodha versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $100 – making Sargodha 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
Sargodha vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Islamabad cheaper than Sargodha?
Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $662 per month in Sargodha and $801 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sargodha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Sargodha and in Islamabad?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Sargodha or in Islamabad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Sargodha and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $800 enough for either Sargodha or Islamabad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $441 in Sargodha and $534 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Sargodha or Islamabad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sargodha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sargodha or Islamabad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sargodha. 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.

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