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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $509 per month in Sheikhupura vs $593 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $795 per month in Sheikhupura vs $929 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,081 per month in Sheikhupura vs $1,264 in Islamabad, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 PKR 1,013

$3.56 PKR 985

2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.26 PKR 6,443

$23.22 PKR 6,430

0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PKR 1,526

$5.44 PKR 1,507

1.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 PKR 971

$3.71 PKR 1,027

-5.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 PKR 1,873

$6.73 PKR 1,865

0.45%

Cappuccino

$2.53 PKR 701

$2.51 PKR 694

0.80%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.3

$0.33 PKR 90.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 57.9

$0.21 PKR 58.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 262

$0.94 PKR 261

1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 PKR 222

$0.75 PKR 209

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.25 PKR 347

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.21 PKR 335

4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,670

$6.06 PKR 1,679

-0.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 884

$3.20 PKR 886

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.23 PKR 1,448

$5.46 PKR 1,512

-4.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.25 PKR 346

1.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.81 PKR 224

6.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.03 PKR 286

4.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.52 PKR 145

1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.9

$0.26 PKR 71.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.3

$0.33 PKR 90.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.28 PKR 76.6

$0.30 PKR 83.6

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.42 PKR 118

2.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.01 PKR 556

-10.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.24 PKR 343

-0.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 PKR 664

$2.32 PKR 641

3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.0

$0.20 PKR 55.7

5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.81 PKR 2,441

$21.86 PKR 6,056

-59.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.29 PKR 358

-3.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 205

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 456

$1.61 PKR 445

2.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.25 PKR 348

4.00%

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

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

-59.53%

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

$24.4K PKR 6.7M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-1.00%

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

$104 PKR 28.7K

$104 PKR 28.9K

-0.78%

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

$5.78 PKR 1,602

$5.88 PKR 1,628

-1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.94 PKR 4,415

$16.18 PKR 4,480

-1.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.98 PKR 4,148

$28.70 PKR 7,950

-47.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,344

Cinema Ticket

$4.44 PKR 1,229

$4.37 PKR 1,210

1.60%

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

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$997 PKR 276.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.52 PKR 6,791

$25.08 PKR 6,946

-2.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 PKR 9,797

$35.11 PKR 9,725

0.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 PKR 26.9K

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

-0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.46 PKR 11.2K

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$145 PKR 40.1K

$278 PKR 77.0K

-48.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.9 PKR 22.1K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-42.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 PKR 71.5K

$590 PKR 163.5K

-56.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 PKR 39.3K

$277 PKR 76.7K

-48.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$968 PKR 268.1K

$1,625 PKR 450.0K

-40.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.1K

$816 PKR 226.1K

-36.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

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 Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $145 in Sheikhupura versus $278 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 $23.00 in Sheikhupura versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $103 – 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 17%, 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 $763 per month in Sheikhupura and $890 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Islamabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sheikhupura and $23.00 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 $509 in Sheikhupura and $593 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.