🙂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 – Sargodha67% lower, Islamabad60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39PKR 386
$2.85PKR 791
-51.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.21PKR 3,947
$14.26PKR 3,960
-0.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38PKR 1,494
$5.44PKR 1,511
-1.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73PKR 480
$1.72PKR 477
0.58%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84PKR 1,066
$3.82PKR 1,061
0.52%
Cappuccino
$2.00PKR 556
$1.97PKR 547
1.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 118
$0.40PKR 110
5.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 60.8
$0.24PKR 67.0
-8.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74PKR 206
$0.96PKR 268
-22.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.66PKR 183
1.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$1.28PKR 355
-3.91%
Eggs
$0.69PKR 193
$1.20PKR 334
-42.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.31PKR 1,752
$6.07PKR 1,687
3.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.91PKR 530
$3.37PKR 937
-43.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.47PKR 1,242
$4.35PKR 1,209
2.76%
Apples(1kg)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.04PKR 289
-47.12%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.84PKR 234
1.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94PKR 262
$0.91PKR 253
3.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.56PKR 156
1.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.41PKR 115
-4.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53PKR 148
$0.57PKR 158
-7.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.2
$0.31PKR 85.4
9.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.41PKR 113
-9.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.46PKR 407
$2.00PKR 555
-27.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86PKR 238
$0.93PKR 258
-7.53%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01PKR 558
$2.04PKR 567
-1.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09PKR 580
$2.14PKR 595
-2.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15PKR 42.94
$0.17PKR 46.51
-11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.26PKR 2,016
$7.22PKR 2,005
0.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84PKR 234
$0.85PKR 236
-1.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.43PKR 120
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.79PKR 774
$2.79PKR 775
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 264
$0.98PKR 271
-3.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KPKR 5.8M
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
0.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KPKR 7.4M
$25.9KPKR 7.2M
2.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113PKR 31.4K
$114PKR 31.6K
-0.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41PKR 1,502
$5.41PKR 1,501
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.97PKR 5,267
$18.69PKR 5,190
1.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.25PKR 3,401
$22.13PKR 6,144
-44.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.91PKR 1,640
$6.12PKR 1,698
-3.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14PKR 1,149
$4.14PKR 1,150
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$59.7PKR 16.6K
$60.2PKR 16.7K
-0.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,097PKR 304.7K
$2,753PKR 764.4K
-60.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.36PKR 5,931
$21.08PKR 5,854
1.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.18PKR 7,825
$27.64PKR 7,674
1.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.4PKR 24.8K
$87.8PKR 24.4K
1.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.40PKR 11.2K
$40.94PKR 11.4K
-1.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.8PKR 21.0K
$199PKR 55.3K
-61.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.5PKR 14.6K
$110PKR 30.5K
-52.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170PKR 47.1K
$505PKR 140.1K
-66.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$105PKR 29.2K
$299PKR 83.0K
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$872PKR 242.0K
$1,513PKR 420.1K
-42.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$478PKR 132.8K
$647PKR 179.8K
-26.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sargodha
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$180PKR 50.0K
$385PKR 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.