Cost of Living Comparison Between Talagang and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Talagang and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $483 per month in Talagang vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $705 per month in Talagang vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $928 per month in Talagang vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Talagang is about 18% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Talagang and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Talagang 65% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 PKR 706

$3.57 PKR 989

-28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.56 PKR 4,036

$22.74 PKR 6,305

-35.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.73 PKR 1,590

$5.47 PKR 1,516

4.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$3.55 PKR 985

-39.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.48 PKR 1,519

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-18.33%

Cappuccino

$2.57 PKR 714

$2.39 PKR 663

7.53%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.32 PKR 90.0

31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.5

$0.22 PKR 60.8

18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 176

$0.99 PKR 275

-35.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.79 PKR 219

-34.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.28 PKR 354

-4.69%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.28 PKR 356

-7.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.33 PKR 1,754

$6.11 PKR 1,694

3.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.56 PKR 709

$3.06 PKR 848

-16.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 PKR 1,330

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-6.25%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$1.34 PKR 371

-31.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.84 PKR 232

-30.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$1.02 PKR 282

-59.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 154

$0.49 PKR 135

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 77.3

$0.29 PKR 81.1

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.1

$0.33 PKR 90.4

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.17 PKR 47.12

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-41.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

$0.38 PKR 106

-10.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.90 PKR 528

-42.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 179

$1.38 PKR 383

-52.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.35 PKR 651

-26.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 PKR 612

$2.28 PKR 632

-3.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.1

$0.16 PKR 44.29

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.02 PKR 2,501

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-57.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 PKR 240

$1.27 PKR 353

-31.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.69 PKR 191

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PKR 508

$1.65 PKR 458

10.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.32 PKR 365

-3.79%

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

$18.3K PKR 5.1M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-66.12%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

4.66%

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

$121 PKR 33.7K

$102 PKR 28.3K

18.90%

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

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-9.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.19 PKR 4,490

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.38 PKR 3,986

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-50.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,212

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-12.77%

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

$43.49 PKR 12.1K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-42.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,012 PKR 557.8K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-60.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.13 PKR 4,749

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-27.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.53 PKR 7,079

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-21.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 PKR 20.3K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-12.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.84 PKR 8,273

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-24.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 32.9K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-57.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.1 PKR 21.9K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-45.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.2K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-51.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 PKR 44.5K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-39.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$917 PKR 254.2K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-43.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$515 PKR 142.7K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-37.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

13.08

8.72%

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

Last update for Talagang: August 29, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $119 in Talagang 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Talagang versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $103 – making Talagang 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

Talagang vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $725 per month in Talagang 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 Talagang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 $15.00 in Talagang and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $483 in Talagang and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Talagang – 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 Talagang. 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.