Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $346 per month in Wah vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $540 per month in Wah vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $735 per month in Wah vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Wah is about 35% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Wah and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Wah 74% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.85 PKR 791

-39.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,994

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-24.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.48 PKR 965

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-36.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 772

$1.72 PKR 477

61.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$3.82 PKR 1,061

23.56%

Cappuccino

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.97 PKR 547

-35.53%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.9

$0.40 PKR 110

-17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.24 PKR 67.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 208

$0.96 PKR 268

-21.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.66 PKR 183

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 349

$1.28 PKR 355

-1.56%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.20 PKR 334

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,711

$6.07 PKR 1,687

1.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 740

$3.37 PKR 937

-21.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.21 PKR 891

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-26.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 284

$1.04 PKR 289

-1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.84 PKR 234

-29.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.91 PKR 253

-30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.56 PKR 156

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.41 PKR 115

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.31 PKR 85.4

90.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.41 PKR 113

-4.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.98 PKR 271

$2.00 PKR 555

-51.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PKR 200

$0.93 PKR 258

-22.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 566

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.14 PKR 595

-14.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.8

$0.17 PKR 46.51

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,994

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-0.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 300

$0.85 PKR 236

27.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.43 PKR 120

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 485

$2.79 PKR 775

-37.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.98 PKR 271

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

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

6.49%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-16.97%

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

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-49.49%

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

$3.83 PKR 1,063

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-29.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.99 PKR 3,607

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-30.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,456

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-43.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,624

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-4.41%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 PKR 994

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-13.53%

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

$27.98 PKR 7,769

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-53.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,141 PKR 316.8K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-58.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,491

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-23.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.93 PKR 6,090

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-20.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-30.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.77 PKR 7,154

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-37.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-62.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-66.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-64.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 PKR 270.5K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-35.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$417 PKR 115.8K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-35.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-10.89%

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

Last update for Wah: July 14, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.3 in Wah 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 Wah versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $88.0 vs $100 – making Wah 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

Wah vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 54%, 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 $519 per month in Wah 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 Wah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 Wah 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 $346 in Wah and $534 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Wah – 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 Wah. 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.