Cost of Living Comparison Between Sialkot and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sialkot and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $340 per month in Sialkot vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $488 per month in Sialkot vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $636 per month in Sialkot vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sialkot is about 36% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sialkot and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sialkot 75% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.04 PKR 290

$2.80 PKR 779

-62.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$6.91 PKR 1,922

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-51.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 PKR 743

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-50.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 486

$1.72 PKR 478

1.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 1,000

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-10.00%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 416

$2.00 PKR 557

-25.00%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.43 PKR 119

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 51.9

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 213

$0.94 PKR 260

-18.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.62 PKR 173

-9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.21 PKR 338

-3.31%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.20 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 PKR 1,229

$6.07 PKR 1,690

-27.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 PKR 723

$3.39 PKR 942

-23.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.93 PKR 1,094

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-10.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.03 PKR 287

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 193

$0.78 PKR 216

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.93 PKR 260

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.60 PKR 166

-5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.41 PKR 115

-4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.54 PKR 149

3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.4

$0.34 PKR 93.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.1

$0.37 PKR 103

-5.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.48 PKR 411

$1.93 PKR 538

-23.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.90 PKR 251

-3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.99 PKR 553

-0.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 PKR 582

$2.14 PKR 596

-2.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 PKR 42.83

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.57 PKR 2,940

$6.90 PKR 1,921

53.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.86 PKR 238

-20.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 781

$2.81 PKR 782

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-3.14%

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

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

2.16%

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

$111 PKR 30.9K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-0.57%

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

$3.27 PKR 911

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-39.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.03 PKR 1,677

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-67.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.97 PKR 1,939

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-68.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.18 PKR 1,442

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-14.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 PKR 1,156

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-1.43%

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

$20.91 PKR 5,819

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-65.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$264 PKR 73.4K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-90.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.35 PKR 3,157

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-47.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.30 PKR 3,701

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-51.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.88 PKR 7,479

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-69.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.02 PKR 5,849

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-47.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$48.17 PKR 13.4K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-75.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$32.36 PKR 9,004

$112 PKR 31.1K

-71.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-78.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.8 PKR 18.0K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-78.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$154 PKR 42.9K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-60.20%

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 Sialkot: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $48.17 in Sialkot versus $198 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 151% 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 $7.00 in Sialkot versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $85.0 vs $98.0 – making Sialkot 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

Sialkot vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $511 per month in Sialkot and $794 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $7.00 in Sialkot and $14.00 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 $340 in Sialkot and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sialkot – 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 Sialkot. 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.