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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $343 per month in Sialkot vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $486 per month in Sialkot vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $629 per month in Sialkot vs $1,160 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 74% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.07 PKR 298

$2.85 PKR 791

-62.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.25 PKR 2,012

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-49.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 PKR 746

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-50.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.72 PKR 477

5.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 PKR 989

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-6.81%

Cappuccino

$1.45 PKR 404

$1.97 PKR 547

-26.40%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.40 PKR 110

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.8

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.96 PKR 268

-26.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.66 PKR 183

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.28 PKR 355

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 332

$1.20 PKR 334

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 PKR 1,204

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-28.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 PKR 741

$3.37 PKR 937

-20.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.04 PKR 1,122

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-7.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.04 PKR 289

0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.84 PKR 234

-21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 262

$0.91 PKR 253

3.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.56 PKR 156

-1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.41 PKR 115

-4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.31 PKR 85.4

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 99.0

$0.41 PKR 113

-12.20%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.47 PKR 408

$2.00 PKR 555

-26.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.93 PKR 258

-1.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.04 PKR 567

-2.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 PKR 604

$2.14 PKR 595

1.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.87

$0.17 PKR 46.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 PKR 2,933

$7.22 PKR 2,006

46.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

$0.85 PKR 236

-14.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 764

$2.79 PKR 775

-1.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.98 PKR 271

-2.04%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

2.87%

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

$26.5K PKR 7.4M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

2.07%

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

$112 PKR 31.2K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-1.13%

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

$3.42 PKR 950

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-36.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.34 PKR 1,760

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-66.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.12 PKR 1,978

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-67.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 PKR 1,506

$6.12 PKR 1,699

-11.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,204

$4.14 PKR 1,150

4.83%

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

$20.91 PKR 5,806

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-65.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$269 PKR 74.7K

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

-90.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.15 PKR 3,097

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-47.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.35 PKR 3,708

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-51.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.47 PKR 7,351

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-69.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.49 PKR 5,968

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-47.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$48.60 PKR 13.5K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-75.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$31.65 PKR 8,788

$110 PKR 30.5K

-71.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-78.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.5 PKR 18.2K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-78.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$150 PKR 41.7K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-60.96%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $48.60 in Sialkot versus $199 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 156% 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: $84.0 vs $100 – 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 56%, 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 $515 per month in Sialkot and $801 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 18% 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 $343 in Sialkot and $534 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.