Cost of Living Comparison Between Skardu and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Skardu and Islamabad

🙂 Solo nomad: Skardu is 16.7% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 28.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Skardu is 21.7% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 34% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74 PKR 490
$2.85 PKR 806
-38.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.71 PKR 3,024
$14.4 PKR 4,068
-25.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.21 PKR 1,190
$5.28 PKR 1,491
-20.27%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 PKR 512
$1.75 PKR 496
3.43%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 PKR 1,018
$3.83 PKR 1,083
-5.74%
Cappuccino
$0.45 PKR 127
$2.01 PKR 567
-77.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 90.3
$0.39 PKR 111
-17.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 59.2
$0.24 PKR 68.1
-12.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 PKR 202
$1 PKR 282
-28.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.6 PKR 168
$0.67 PKR 188
-10.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 PKR 341
$1.22 PKR 344
-0.82%
Eggs
$1.18 PKR 334
$1.27 PKR 358
-7.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.9 PKR 1,667
$6.15 PKR 1,736
-4.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.59 PKR 732
$3.55 PKR 1,004
-27.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.8 PKR 1,073
$4.31 PKR 1,216
-11.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1 PKR 282
$1.03 PKR 292
-2.91%
Banana (1kg)
$0.6 PKR 170
$0.85 PKR 239
-29.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.66 PKR 188
$0.9 PKR 255
-26.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 148
$0.59 PKR 167
-11.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 107
$0.42 PKR 118
-9.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 133
$0.52 PKR 148
-9.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKR 87.3
$0.31 PKR 87.3
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 102
$0.4 PKR 114
-10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.35 PKR 381
$1.78 PKR 503
-24.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 PKR 258
$0.87 PKR 247
4.60%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 PKR 556
$1.96 PKR 554
0.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.9 PKR 537
$2.17 PKR 613
-12.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53.6
$0.19 PKR 53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.16 PKR 2,023
$6.95 PKR 1,964
3.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.9 PKR 254
$0.85 PKR 239
5.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 PKR 115
$0.44 PKR 123
-6.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.8 PKR 507
$2.9 PKR 820
-37.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 PKR 279
$0.98 PKR 277
1.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K PKR 6.5M
$26K PKR 7.3M
-10.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 PKR 28.8K
$111 PKR 31.3K
-7.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.89 PKR 1,946
$5.35 PKR 1,512
28.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.13 PKR 3,145
$18.38 PKR 5,191
-39.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.42 PKR 3,508
$22.44 PKR 6,339
-44.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.83 PKR 1,647
$6.02 PKR 1,700
-3.16%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51 PKR 993
$4.3 PKR 1,214
-18.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$30.38 PKR 8,581
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
-48.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,122 PKR 316.8K
$2,713 PKR 766.3K
-58.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.9 PKR 4,209
$21.17 PKR 5,980
-29.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.89 PKR 6,182
$28.14 PKR 7,947
-22.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.4 PKR 19.9K
$87.7 PKR 24.8K
-19.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.7 PKR 8,106
$39.86 PKR 11.3K
-28.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$76.2 PKR 21.5K
$202 PKR 57K
-62.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$51.6 PKR 14.6K
$112 PKR 31.5K
-53.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$169 PKR 47.8K
$499 PKR 141.1K
-66.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 PKR 30.5K
$298 PKR 84.3K
-63.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$625 PKR 176.5K
$1,315 PKR 371.4K
-52.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$381 PKR 107.5K
$781 PKR 220.5K
-51.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skardu
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$278 PKR 78.4K
$289 PKR 81.6K
-3.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19
20.2
-5.94%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Skardu: October 28, 2025

Last update for Islamabad: October 29, 2025

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