Cost of Living Comparison Between Sheikhupura and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sheikhupura and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $455 per month in Sheikhupura vs $537 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $682 per month in Sheikhupura vs $845 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $909 per month in Sheikhupura vs $1,154 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sheikhupura is about 15% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sheikhupura and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sheikhupura 66% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 PKR 774

$2.76 PKR 769

1.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.41 PKR 4,005

$14.32 PKR 3,980

0.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.17 PKR 1,437

$5.23 PKR 1,454

-1.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.75 PKR 488

-1.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 PKR 1,075

$3.94 PKR 1,096

-1.78%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 552

$2.08 PKR 578

-4.81%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.40 PKR 111

7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.24 PKR 67.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 155

$1.00 PKR 277

-44.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.63 PKR 174

-19.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.26 PKR 351

-17.46%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.26 PKR 351

0.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.35 PKR 1,766

$6.28 PKR 1,747

1.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.75 PKR 486

$3.39 PKR 942

-48.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.77 PKR 770

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-36.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.03 PKR 287

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.84 PKR 233

-5.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 244

$0.90 PKR 249

-2.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.60 PKR 165

-5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.39 PKR 108

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.54 PKR 150

5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.31 PKR 86.2

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 404

$2.00 PKR 555

-27.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.93 PKR 259

-2.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 542

$1.96 PKR 545

-0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 579

$2.06 PKR 573

0.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.40

$0.16 PKR 43.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.12 PKR 1,978

$7.05 PKR 1,960

0.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.90 PKR 251

-3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 PKR 773

$2.85 PKR 793

-2.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.98 PKR 273

-1.02%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

3.53%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-0.14%

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

$112 PKR 31.0K

$112 PKR 31.2K

-0.68%

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

$5.47 PKR 1,521

$5.37 PKR 1,492

1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.56 PKR 5,161

$18.53 PKR 5,152

0.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.54 PKR 3,486

$22.84 PKR 6,351

-45.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 PKR 1,618

$6.01 PKR 1,670

-3.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PKR 1,157

$4.17 PKR 1,158

-0.24%

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

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

$59.2 PKR 16.5K

2.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,127 PKR 313.3K

$2,812 PKR 781.8K

-59.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.07 PKR 5,859

$21.16 PKR 5,883

-0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.55 PKR 7,659

$28.15 PKR 7,827

-2.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 PKR 24.6K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-1.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

$39.45 PKR 11.0K

2.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

$197 PKR 54.7K

-61.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 PKR 47.2K

$515 PKR 143.1K

-67.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-65.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$765 PKR 212.7K

$1,513 PKR 420.5K

-49.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$429 PKR 119.4K

$637 PKR 177.2K

-32.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$382 PKR 106.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Sheikhupura: June 16, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.5 in Sheikhupura versus $197 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Sheikhupura versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $81.0 vs $100 – making Sheikhupura 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

Sheikhupura vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $682 per month in Sheikhupura and $805 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $14.00 in Sheikhupura and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $455 in Sheikhupura and $537 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sheikhupura – 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 Sheikhupura. 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.