Cost of living comparison

 Asmara, Eritrea
compared to
Islamabad vs. Asmara Cost of Living Summary

Islamabad is 2.9% more expensive than Asmara.

Restaurants
pay 70.2% less in Islamabad
Groceries
pay 39.2% less in Islamabad
Transportation
pay 41.3% less in Islamabad
Housing
pay 18.7% more in Islamabad
Childcare
pay 2.1 times more in Islamabad
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.0 times more in Islamabad
Clothing
pay 64.9% less in Islamabad

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, and housing in Islamabad are more expensive than in Asmara. Expenses including restaurants, clothing, transportation, and groceries are lower in Islamabad. Notably, childcare and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Islamabad.

Islamabad vs. Asmara Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Islamabad instead of Asmara, you would:

pay 70.2% less for restaurants

 
Asmara
Islamabad
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $18.14
ERN272.04
$1.79
PKR501.59
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.99
ERN89.85
$4.30
PKR1,203.83
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.83
ERN27.50
$0.35
PKR99.18

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pay 39.2% less for groceries

 
Asmara
Islamabad
Bread
1 loaf
$0.50
ERN7.50
$0.68
PKR190.02
Local cheese (8 oz) $1.50
ERN22.50
$2.96
PKR829.49
Milk (1 gallon) $6.14
ERN92.11
$3.31
PKR928.60

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pay 41.3% less for transportation

 
Asmara
Islamabad
Gasoline (1 gallon) $8.83
ERN132.49
$3.81
PKR1,066.70
Monthly public transit pass $8.00
ERN120.00
$6.80
PKR1,906.06
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $66,666.00
ERN999,990.00
$21,479.46
PKR6,019,126.70

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pay 18.7% more for housing

 
Asmara
Islamabad
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$200.00
ERN3,000.00
$18.16
PKR5,087.60
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $475.00
ERN7,125.00
$174.15
PKR48,802.14
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $400.00
ERN6,000.00
$99.01
PKR27,744.41

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pay 2.1 times more for childcare

 
Asmara
Islamabad
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $25.00
ERN375.00
$60.17
PKR16,861.27
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $1,675.00
ERN25,125.00
$3,142.14
PKR880,512.25

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pay 2.0 times more for entertainment and sports

 
Asmara
Islamabad
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.00
ERN15.00
$1.79
PKR501.59
Cappuccino in mid-range area $0.77
ERN11.58
$1.97
PKR551.28
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.00
ERN30.00
$2.15
PKR601.91

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pay 64.9% less for clothing

 
Asmara
Islamabad
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$82.50
ERN1,237.50
$19.06
PKR5,340.50
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$75.00
ERN1,125.00
$26.18
PKR7,335.81
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$200.00
ERN3,000.00
$83.29
PKR23,340.84

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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