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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Talagang vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $586 per month in Talagang vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $783 per month in Talagang vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Talagang is about 27% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Talagang and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Talagang 71% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 494

$2.85 PKR 791

-37.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.51 PKR 2,917

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-26.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 PKR 1,163

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-22.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 483

$1.72 PKR 477

1.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 967

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-8.90%

Cappuccino

$1.49 PKR 415

$1.97 PKR 547

-24.37%

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

$0.32 PKR 87.6

$0.40 PKR 110

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.96 PKR 268

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.66 PKR 183

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 321

$1.28 PKR 355

-9.38%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.20 PKR 334

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 PKR 1,640

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-2.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.65 PKR 736

$3.37 PKR 937

-21.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 PKR 997

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-17.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.04 PKR 289

-2.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.84 PKR 234

-22.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.91 PKR 253

-27.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.56 PKR 156

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.41 PKR 115

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.9

$0.31 PKR 85.4

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.41 PKR 113

-17.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.47 PKR 409

$2.00 PKR 555

-26.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.93 PKR 258

-8.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 PKR 547

$2.04 PKR 567

-3.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 550

$2.14 PKR 595

-7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 PKR 42.87

$0.17 PKR 46.51

-11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.09 PKR 1,968

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-1.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.85 PKR 236

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.79 PKR 775

-36.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.98 PKR 271

-2.04%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

3.25%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-11.81%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-9.09%

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

$4.17 PKR 1,158

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-22.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.81 PKR 3,835

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-26.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.14 PKR 3,372

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-45.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,680

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-1.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.65 PKR 1,012

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-11.84%

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

$29.51 PKR 8,195

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-50.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,109 PKR 308.0K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-59.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.30 PKR 4,249

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-27.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.34 PKR 6,204

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-19.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 PKR 19.5K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-20.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.50 PKR 8,191

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 PKR 21.3K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-61.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.5K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.5K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-66.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.6K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-64.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$942 PKR 261.6K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-37.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$521 PKR 144.7K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-19.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-5.94%

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

Last update for Talagang: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.6 in Talagang 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Talagang versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $100 – 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 37%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $584 per month in Talagang 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 Talagang, 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 $11.00 in Talagang and $14.00 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 $389 in Talagang and $534 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.