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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $359 per month in Sialkot vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $518 per month in Sialkot vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $676 per month in Sialkot vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sialkot is about 39% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sialkot and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sialkot 74% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.09 PKR 302

$3.57 PKR 989

-69.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.40 PKR 2,051

$22.74 PKR 6,303

-67.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,540

$5.47 PKR 1,515

1.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 PKR 981

$3.55 PKR 985

-0.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PKR 789

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-57.68%

Cappuccino

$1.60 PKR 445

$2.39 PKR 663

-33.05%

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

$0.29 PKR 81.7

$0.32 PKR 89.9

-9.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 57.8

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.99 PKR 275

-8.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.79 PKR 219

-20.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 277

$1.28 PKR 354

-21.88%

Eggs

$1.07 PKR 297

$1.28 PKR 356

-16.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.05 PKR 1,124

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-33.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.76 PKR 488

$3.06 PKR 848

-42.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.30 PKR 1,470

$5.12 PKR 1,419

3.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 321

$1.34 PKR 371

-13.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.84 PKR 232

-32.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 215

$1.02 PKR 282

-23.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.49 PKR 135

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 80.7

$0.29 PKR 81.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.6

$0.33 PKR 90.3

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 81.5

$0.29 PKR 80.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.38 PKR 106

10.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.47 PKR 407

$1.90 PKR 528

-22.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 304

$1.38 PKR 383

-20.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 682

$2.35 PKR 651

4.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.28 PKR 632

3.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.38

$0.16 PKR 44.27

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.71 PKR 2,969

$21.23 PKR 5,884

-49.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.27 PKR 353

1.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.69 PKR 191

-39.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 PKR 441

$1.65 PKR 458

-3.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.32 PKR 365

-7.58%

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

$20.0K PKR 5.5M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-62.99%

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

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-3.77%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$102 PKR 28.3K

2.27%

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

$5.61 PKR 1,555

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-3.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.95 PKR 4,420

$16.34 PKR 4,530

-2.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.12 PKR 1,973

$29.09 PKR 8,064

-75.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$8.93 PKR 2,476

-40.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 PKR 1,362

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-2.00%

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

$19.84 PKR 5,500

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-73.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$275 PKR 76.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-94.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.48 PKR 4,013

$23.55 PKR 6,527

-38.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.85 PKR 4,669

$32.68 PKR 9,058

-48.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.57 PKR 7,366

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-68.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.37 PKR 5,923

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-45.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$49.52 PKR 13.7K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-82.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$32.08 PKR 8,892

$144 PKR 40.0K

-77.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$577 PKR 159.9K

-81.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.7 PKR 18.5K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-74.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 229.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$155 PKR 43.0K

$381 PKR 105.7K

-59.34%

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 Sialkot: August 29, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $49.52 in Sialkot versus $277 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 146% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $83.0 vs $103 – 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 64%, 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 $538 per month in Sialkot and $884 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 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 $7.00 in Sialkot and $23.00 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 $359 in Sialkot and $589 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.