Cost of living comparison
Islamabad is 52.9% more expensive than Kabul.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.6% less in Islamabad
- Groceries
-
pay 42.9% more in Islamabad
- Transportation
-
pay 30.7% more in Islamabad
- Housing
-
pay 3.0% more in Islamabad
- Childcare
-
pay 2.4 times more in Islamabad
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 51.2% more in Islamabad
- Clothing
-
pay 2.2 times more in Islamabad
The cost of childcare, clothing, entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and housing in Islamabad are more expensive than in Kabul. Notably, childcare and clothing are significantly more expensive in Islamabad.
If you lived in Islamabad instead of Kabul, you would:
pay 8.6% less for restaurants
|
Kabul
|
Islamabad
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.63
AFN189
|
$1.79
PKR502.05
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.31
AFN524
|
$4.30
PKR1,204.92
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
AFN27
|
$0.35
PKR99.27
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.17
AFN12
|
$0.24
PKR67.88
|
|
pay 42.9% more for groceries
|
Kabul
|
Islamabad
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.25
AFN18
|
$0.68
PKR190.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$1.96
AFN141
|
$2.96
PKR830.24
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.05
AFN218
|
$3.31
PKR929.44
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.48
AFN106
|
$1.25
PKR350.64
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.54
AFN110
|
$1.64
PKR460.29
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.25
AFN18
|
$0.48
PKR135.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.36
AFN26
|
$0.38
PKR107.36
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.37
AFN27
|
$0.37
PKR104.22
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.23
AFN16
|
$0.26
PKR73.18
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.15
AFN11
|
$0.19
PKR52.89
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.15
AFN11
|
$0.25
PKR70.33
|
|
pay 30.7% more for transportation
|
Kabul
|
Islamabad
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.96
AFN283
|
$3.81
PKR1,067.67
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$8.93
AFN640
|
$6.80
PKR1,907.78
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$7,079.28
AFN506,871
|
$21,479.46
PKR6,024,577.59
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$9.07
AFN649
|
$4.27
PKR1,198.89
|
|
pay 3.0% more for housing
|
Kabul
|
Islamabad
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$130.18
AFN9,321
|
$18.16
PKR5,092.20
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$103.61
AFN7,418
|
$174.15
PKR48,846.33
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$89.85
AFN6,433
|
$99.01
PKR27,769.54
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$70.84
AFN5,072
|
$84.99
PKR23,837.11
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for childcare
|
Kabul
|
Islamabad
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$23.40
AFN1,676
|
$60.17
PKR16,876.54
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,462.66
AFN104,725
|
$3,142.14
PKR881,309.64
|
|
pay 51.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
Kabul
|
Islamabad
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.93
AFN209
|
$1.79
PKR502.05
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.27
AFN91
|
$1.97
PKR551.77
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.63
AFN189
|
$2.15
PKR602.46
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$8.78
AFN628
|
$23.01
PKR6,454.90
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$2.19
AFN157
|
$4.30
PKR1,204.92
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for clothing
|
Kabul
|
Islamabad
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$10.97
AFN785
|
$19.06
PKR5,345.34
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$16.03
AFN1,148
|
$26.18
PKR7,342.45
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$23.77
AFN1,702
|
$83.29
PKR23,361.97
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$22.38
AFN1,602
|
$38.79
PKR10,880.64
|
|
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