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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Sargodha vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $783 per month in Sargodha vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,060 per month in Sargodha vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sargodha is about 14% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Sargodha and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sargodha 63% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 PKR 996

$3.57 PKR 990

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.32 PKR 6,470

$22.74 PKR 6,309

2.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 PKR 1,479

$5.47 PKR 1,517

-2.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 PKR 981

$3.55 PKR 986

-0.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 PKR 1,891

$6.71 PKR 1,862

1.64%

Cappuccino

$2.45 PKR 680

$2.39 PKR 663

2.51%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.9

$0.32 PKR 90.0

9.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.0

$0.22 PKR 60.8

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.99 PKR 275

-7.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.79 PKR 220

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.28 PKR 354

-0.78%

Eggs

$1.31 PKR 363

$1.28 PKR 356

2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.96 PKR 1,652

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-2.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.15 PKR 874

$3.06 PKR 849

2.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 PKR 1,423

$5.12 PKR 1,421

0.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.34 PKR 371

-3.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.84 PKR 232

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.02 PKR 282

4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 126

$0.49 PKR 135

-6.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 PKR 74.6

$0.29 PKR 81.2

-6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.9

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.6

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.38 PKR 106

2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 PKR 494

$1.90 PKR 528

-6.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.38 PKR 383

-2.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PKR 678

$2.35 PKR 652

3.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 PKR 658

$2.28 PKR 632

3.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.62

$0.16 PKR 44.31

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.01 PKR 2,776

$21.23 PKR 5,889

-52.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.27 PKR 353

-3.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 PKR 207

$0.69 PKR 191

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 PKR 442

$1.65 PKR 459

-3.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.32 PKR 365

-3.79%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-59.99%

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

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

1.50%

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

$103 PKR 28.4K

$102 PKR 28.3K

0.40%

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

$5.62 PKR 1,559

$5.83 PKR 1,618

-3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.28 PKR 4,516

$16.34 PKR 4,534

-0.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.67 PKR 4,346

$29.09 PKR 8,071

-46.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

Cinema Ticket

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-0.20%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-0.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,010 PKR 280.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.37 PKR 6,761

$23.55 PKR 6,532

3.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.85 PKR 8,835

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-2.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.6 PKR 22.9K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.86 PKR 11.1K

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

1.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.8K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-54.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.2 PKR 21.7K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-45.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 PKR 69.6K

$577 PKR 160.1K

-56.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.9K

$266 PKR 73.9K

-43.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$903 PKR 250.5K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

-44.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$508 PKR 141.0K

$829 PKR 230.1K

-38.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 PKR 50.0K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-52.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Sargodha: September 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Sargodha 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 112% 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 $23.00 in Sargodha versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $103 – 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

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $759 per month in Sargodha 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 Sargodha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $23.00 in Sargodha and $23.00 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 $506 in Sargodha and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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 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.