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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Sheikhupura vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $663 per month in Sheikhupura vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $876 per month in Sheikhupura vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

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

Both Sheikhupura and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sheikhupura 66% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 805

$2.87 PKR 801

0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.39 PKR 4,011

$14.22 PKR 3,963

1.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,514

$5.23 PKR 1,459

3.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 483

$1.74 PKR 486

-0.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 PKR 1,088

$3.82 PKR 1,066

2.09%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 581

$2.05 PKR 573

1.46%

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

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.39 PKR 109

10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.22 PKR 61.2

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.96 PKR 267

-42.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.61 PKR 171

-9.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.27 PKR 355

-14.17%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.21 PKR 337

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,768

$6.17 PKR 1,720

2.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.82 PKR 508

$3.49 PKR 973

-47.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.90 PKR 807

$4.39 PKR 1,225

-33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 281

$1.03 PKR 288

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.82 PKR 230

-4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.94 PKR 263

2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.56 PKR 155

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.38 PKR 106

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.53 PKR 147

9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.0

$0.33 PKR 92.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.37 PKR 104

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.39 PKR 387

$1.96 PKR 547

-29.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.92 PKR 255

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 547

$1.98 PKR 552

-1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 575

$2.07 PKR 578

-0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.7

$0.17 PKR 46.57

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,937

$6.98 PKR 1,945

-0.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 238

$0.92 PKR 255

-7.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.41 PKR 113

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 PKR 803

$2.75 PKR 767

4.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.98 PKR 274

-7.14%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-0.50%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

1.84%

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

$111 PKR 30.9K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-0.48%

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

$5.53 PKR 1,543

$5.52 PKR 1,538

0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.40 PKR 5,129

$18.67 PKR 5,203

-1.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.31 PKR 3,430

$22.27 PKR 6,207

-44.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 PKR 1,624

$5.85 PKR 1,630

-0.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,155

$4.14 PKR 1,153

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

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-0.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,102 PKR 307.1K

$2,782 PKR 775.4K

-60.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.06 PKR 5,870

$21.34 PKR 5,948

-1.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.26 PKR 7,877

$28.33 PKR 7,898

-0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 PKR 24.2K

$90.1 PKR 25.1K

-3.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-0.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.8 PKR 20.6K

$200 PKR 55.7K

-63.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.9 PKR 14.2K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-54.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.2K

$513 PKR 143.0K

-67.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.2K

$288 PKR 80.4K

-62.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$761 PKR 212.1K

$1,526 PKR 425.3K

-50.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$613 PKR 170.9K

$740 PKR 206.3K

-17.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.7K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $73.8 in Sheikhupura versus $200 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: $82.0 vs $99.0 – 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 20%, 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 $676 per month in Sheikhupura and $814 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 22% 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 $451 in Sheikhupura and $543 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.