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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $446 per month in Sheikhupura vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $671 per month in Sheikhupura vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $895 per month in Sheikhupura vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sheikhupura is about 16% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 PKR 764

$2.89 PKR 804

-4.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.25 PKR 3,963

$14.01 PKR 3,894

1.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.39 PKR 1,499

$5.35 PKR 1,487

0.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.75 PKR 487

2.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 PKR 1,066

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-3.27%

Cappuccino

$2.06 PKR 574

$2.02 PKR 561

1.98%

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.39 PKR 110

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.22 PKR 61.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.02 PKR 284

-46.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.66 PKR 184

-21.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.27 PKR 353

-18.11%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.23 PKR 341

-1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,720

$6.02 PKR 1,675

2.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.75 PKR 487

$3.41 PKR 948

-48.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.76 PKR 767

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-39.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.03 PKR 288

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 PKR 230

$0.84 PKR 233

-1.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.90 PKR 251

6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.55 PKR 153

7.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.38 PKR 106

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.56 PKR 156

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.0

$0.30 PKR 84.6

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.41 PKR 113

-2.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.41 PKR 392

$1.99 PKR 553

-29.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.93 PKR 257

-5.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 546

$2.01 PKR 560

-2.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 PKR 593

$2.15 PKR 598

-0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.85

$0.19 PKR 52.8

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,919

$6.95 PKR 1,933

-0.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.85 PKR 236

8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.41 PKR 113

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 PKR 800

$2.81 PKR 781

2.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.95 PKR 264

1.05%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

0.57%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

0.74%

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

$111 PKR 31.0K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-0.40%

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

$5.65 PKR 1,572

$5.36 PKR 1,492

5.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.78 PKR 5,221

$18.59 PKR 5,168

1.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.25 PKR 3,406

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-44.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 PKR 1,684

$5.89 PKR 1,638

2.89%

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 PKR 1,167

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-3.23%

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

$59.0 PKR 16.4K

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-0.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,125 PKR 312.7K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-59.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.70 PKR 6,032

$21.12 PKR 5,873

2.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.77 PKR 7,722

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 PKR 24.7K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

1.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.37 PKR 10.9K

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-62.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-52.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.5K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-67.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-64.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,035 PKR 287.8K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-33.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$537 PKR 149.4K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-16.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

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 7, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.2 in Sheikhupura versus $201 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 19%, 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 $669 per month in Sheikhupura and $799 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 $446 in Sheikhupura and $533 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.