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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $347 per month in Wah vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $528 per month in Wah vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $709 per month in Wah vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Wah is about 34% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Wah and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Wah 74% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 503

$2.80 PKR 779

-35.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.44 PKR 2,906

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-26.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 PKR 976

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-35.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 PKR 794

$1.72 PKR 478

65.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 PKR 1,330

$4.00 PKR 1,112

19.50%

Cappuccino

$1.28 PKR 355

$2.00 PKR 557

-36.00%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.43 PKR 119

-20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.94 PKR 260

-20.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.62 PKR 173

-3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.21 PKR 338

4.13%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 318

$1.20 PKR 335

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.07 PKR 1,689

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.55 PKR 710

$3.39 PKR 942

-24.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.16 PKR 879

$4.38 PKR 1,218

-27.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.78 PKR 216

-23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.93 PKR 260

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.60 PKR 166

-13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.41 PKR 115

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.54 PKR 149

1.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.34 PKR 93.3

82.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.37 PKR 103

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 263

$1.93 PKR 537

-50.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.90 PKR 251

-18.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 PKR 521

$2.14 PKR 596

-12.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.82

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.11 PKR 1,978

$6.90 PKR 1,921

3.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.86 PKR 238

22.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.44 PKR 122

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.81 PKR 782

-35.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.91 PKR 253

3.30%

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

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

3.47%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-17.99%

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

$57.8 PKR 16.1K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-48.31%

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

$3.78 PKR 1,052

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-30.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.03 PKR 3,624

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-30.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.61 PKR 3,508

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-43.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,643

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-2.32%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,001

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-14.49%

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

$28.34 PKR 7,883

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-53.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,133 PKR 315.3K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-59.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.04 PKR 4,461

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-25.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.88 PKR 6,087

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-20.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-31.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.53 PKR 7,101

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-36.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-62.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.7 PKR 14.7K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-52.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.1K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-67.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-64.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,113 PKR 309.5K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-28.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$583 PKR 162.2K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-11.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.2 in Wah versus $198 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 $10.00 in Wah versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $87.0 vs $98.0 – 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 53%, 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 $520 per month in Wah and $794 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 12% 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 $10.00 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 $347 in Wah and $529 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.