Cost of Living in Islamabad

Summary of cost of living in Islamabad, Pakistan:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 400.00 Rs. 250.00-1,000.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 4,500.00 Rs. 2,500.00-10,000.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 1,200.00 Rs. 900.00-1,500.00
Domestic Non-Alcoholic Beer (1 pint draught) 600.00 Rs. 400.00-1,800.00
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (12 oz small bottle) 1,200.00 Rs. 600.00-2,000.00
Cappuccino (regular) 464.13 Rs. 150.00-850.00
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 85.23 Rs. 50.00-150.00
Water (12 oz small bottle) 63.86 Rs. 45.00-100.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 896.60 Rs. 757.08-1,097.77
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 170.91 Rs. 90.72-299.37
Rice (white), (1 lb) 162.55 Rs. 90.72-249.48
Eggs (regular) (12) 328.08 Rs. 240.00-402.00
Local Cheese (1 lb) 616.19 Rs. 226.80-1,133.98
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 449.09 Rs. 272.16-680.00
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 514.65 Rs. 362.87-680.39
Apples (1 lb) 137.56 Rs. 68.04-204.12
Banana (1 lb) 103.63 Rs. 68.04-181.44
Oranges (1 lb) 115.39 Rs. 45.36-181.44
Tomato (1 lb) 59.42 Rs. 22.68-113.40
Potato (1 lb) 42.44 Rs. 22.68-81.65
Onion (1 lb) 54.86 Rs. 27.22-90.72
Lettuce (1 head) 81.43 Rs. 40.00-150.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 105.00 Rs. 70.00-150.00
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range) 470.00 Rs. 150.00-1,200.00
Domestic Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 213.58 Rs. 143.94-541.13
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (12 oz small bottle) 431.25 Rs. 220.00-1,000.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 500.00 Rs. 300.00-600.00
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 50.00 Rs. 30.00-80.00
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 1,500.00 Rs. 1,000.00-2,000.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 200.00 Rs. 120.00-350.00
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 193.12 Rs. 150.00-321.87
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 750.00 Rs. 400.00-1,200.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 1,057.75 Rs. 991.78-1,252.97
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 5,000,000.00 Rs. 4,000,000.00-6,000,000.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 6,088,541.18 Rs. 5,000,000.00-8,000,000.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 26,599.94 Rs. 17,000.00-40,000.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 1,229.50 Rs. 868.00-2,000.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 4,361.90 Rs. 2,500.00-6,969.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 5,272.73 Rs. 2,000.00-15,000.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 1,416.67 Rs. 1,000.00-2,000.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 1,000.00 Rs. 700.00-1,500.00
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 14,977.27 Rs. 7,000.00-30,000.00
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 398,200.00 Rs. 120,000.00-1,200,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 4,687.50 Rs. 1,500.00-8,000.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 6,461.90 Rs. 3,000.00-12,000.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 20,619.05 Rs. 7,000.00-30,000.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 9,159.09 Rs. 4,000.00-20,000.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 45,476.19 Rs. 30,000.00-90,000.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 26,818.18 Rs. 20,000.00-50,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 112,272.73 Rs. 60,000.00-200,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 75,476.19 Rs. 50,000.00-100,000.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 20,278.31 Rs. 5,999.95-44,999.63
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 12,473.44 Rs. 4,999.96-23,225.57
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 60,277.78 Rs.
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 20.00 10.00-26.00

Prices in Islamabad

This city had 1201 entries in the past 12 months by 151 different contributors.
Last update: March 2024
Sources and References
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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17 Comments so far
Adil on Dec 31, 2023:
I am living in Islamabad write now and i am earning 62k per month ....my monthly expenditure of rent and food is 15k....two times in moth i traveled to my home town "Dhirkot" in ajk to my parant house. After transportation and and other bringing to home it u uasually cost me 12000. After eating at least once outside my hole expense is 15k......

I can save the rest 32k per month
Anonymous on Sep 28, 2022:
Hey Alex you must like queers that's all that's there, not my thing tho
Alex on Sep 22, 2022:
I loved Islamabad. Its a beautiful city, very peaceful and safe. The cost of my short stay was very reasonable and much lower than many cities I have been to. The people are vey nice and hospitable. I would say its a cleaner, better and more sophisticated version of India with Islamic way of life evident all over. Not much of a night life except eating out. Quality of life was quite similiar to many of the US subarbs.
Anonymous on Sep 18, 2022:
Islamabad like the rest of Pakistan men outnumber women by a big margin. The only thing in Islamabad I noticed was how many faggots there were everywhere which I'm not into that. Men dressed up like women so funny it must be an Islamic thing.
Anonymous on Sep 01, 2022:
Don't waste your time visiting Islamabad it's a dump filled with ignorant uneducated people.
Anonymous on Aug 31, 2022:
FYI over 8 million people are murdered each year in the U S.Current statistics breaks down the nature of the murders here in the U S 83% of the murders that happen each year in the U S are between opposite cultures. Like it or not it is what it is many misunderstandings leads to violence here.
Anonymous on Aug 31, 2022:
There's nothing racist about me never will be. I experienced it personally I don't need video proof. Obviously you didn't notice on you tube videos how you tubers portray people from all countries as very nice but there's not an ounce of truth to their videos never was for these reasons. Youtubers will never show the negative side otherwise they would be demonitized by you tube. Youtubers want subscribers and that's how they make money so it's a racket. I met a well known youtuber once. I asked her why she didn't show the truth on her videos when filming countries? She said it's all about subscribers money money money so there's your honest answer.

Sure the U S has major violence always has for this reason too. Every different culture on the planet from every country lives throughout the U S. Misunderstandings are normal between cultures and then violence breaks out. I've seen many different cultures fighting physically here in the U S many times.

I do understand many U S citizens can be and are very rude with people globally because I've seen it happen since I've visited every single country on the planet including all 54 countries in Africa. However I've never witnessed the hatred for U S citizens anywhere globally like I did during my visit to Islamabad a fact.

FYI I've never been rude to anyone in any country I've visited over the years just not how I am. Even when being refused service at restaurants just because I'm a U S citizen in Islamabad I didn't get mad but instead I just said thank you and nothing more and I walked away. It seems like you are getting mad just because I told the truth of my experience visiting Islamabad so you just proved my point,get over yourself.
Pakistani on Aug 29, 2022:
By the way, do you know many get killed every day in USA by gun violence, and what do you call it?
Pakistani on Aug 27, 2022:
It's funny why you stayed in Pakistan for two months? All the YouTube videos show foreigners being treated with love and respect in Pakistan. Many restaurants and shoppers don't even take money for the food they eat their out of courtesy for guests in our culture. Show us a video proof of what you are saying is correct instead of giving a blanket statement. Otherwise, you are just a racist and spreading hate and false propaganda. May be this is your real job.
Anonymous on Aug 25, 2022:
Pakistanis hate u s citizens we noticed during our visit 3 years ago just being American was enough to set them off
Reply to Anonymous on Aug 09, 2022:
Hey Anonymous - Obviously you have never visited Pakistan in your life. I recommend visiting Islamabad once, you will have a change of heart. Burning yourself in hate is not good for health.
IS on Feb 17, 2021:
Hi,
A job in Pakistan for 300k month is that a good salary ? being UK based currently I am earning 4 times more but obviously living costs vary drastically, so any indication would be nice?

Thanks
Anon on Feb 17, 2021:
Hi. I am considering moving to Pakistan from the UK. Ive never lived there, however have visited as my parents originate from Azad Kashmir. I wanted to get an indication of which area is best to live in Islamabad for a family of 6. Two adults and four children aged between 8-16. Location would have to be safe, accessible to good schools and offer some green space, not being too built up or heavily congested. Ideally would be looking for a six-bedroom house with good sized gardens.
Can someone please help with advice on areas I should be looking at, approximate rental I should be paying per month, which schools are best for both primary and secondary aged children and what I can expect my cost of living to be per month.

Thanks
Mohammed on Nov 26, 2020:
What are the living costs for a small family in 3 bedroom house.
How much to buy a 3 bed house out of city Golbers Green area?
Anonymous on Oct 20, 2020:
Islamabad is really nice - I moved back to Islamabad after living and working in London (UK) for almost half of my life.

USD $800 x 155 to convert to PKR = 124K per month
Rent for apartment or 40*50 (5 marla) house is in the region of 25-50K (G-11)
House helpers cost would be 10K.
Utilities bills - 15K
Market & shopping - 20K.

So overall you can have a fairly comfortable life with USd $800 in Pakistan.
Hope this helps.
Anonymous on May 07, 2020:
I have lived and worked in Washington DC for the past 40 years and now I have been retired for the past two years. I'm bored with American life now and want to go back to Asia. I can afford to spend about $8000 american dollars a month. Can I live well in a very nice an safe part of Islamabad and enjoy my retirement with $8000 dollars a month? The cost of renting a nice 2 bedroom luxury apartment is the biggest unknown for me.
Dr Bilal Hassan on May 02, 2020:
i am in islamabad from about 18 years i saw that it is best place to live in world with full of greenery and each and every facility.Best places to live in islamabad are sector E11,F11,F6,F7,G11,G8,I8,DHA and many other but i saw that people are most interested in sectors g11,g10 because these sectors are very beautifull green and still government is planning these sectors specially g11 i hope g11 will cross E11,F11 shortly if government continues to increases its beauty because g11 is hub of islamabad and it represents whole islamabad.