Cost of living comparison
Islamabad is 51.7% more expensive than Thimphu.
- Groceries
-
pay 17.9% less in Islamabad
- Transportation
-
pay 0.5% less in Islamabad
- Housing
-
pay 2.1 times more in Islamabad
- Childcare
-
pay 2.4 times more in Islamabad
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 23.9% less in Islamabad
- Clothing
-
pay 2.0 times more in Islamabad
The cost of childcare, housing, and clothing in Islamabad are more expensive than in Thimphu. Expenses including entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and restaurants are lower in Islamabad. Notably, childcare, housing, and clothing are significantly more expensive in Islamabad.
If you lived in Islamabad instead of Thimphu, you would:
pay (unknown) more for restaurants
Thimphu
|
Islamabad
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.95
BTN252.09
|
$1.79
PKR504.34
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$2.95
BTN252.09
|
$4.30
PKR1,210.42
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.55
BTN47.39
|
$0.35
PKR99.72
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.19
BTN15.97
|
$0.24
PKR68.19
|
pay 17.9% less for groceries
Thimphu
|
Islamabad
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.94
BTN80.67
|
$0.68
PKR191.06
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$1.68
BTN143.69
|
$2.96
PKR834.03
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.17
BTN271.01
|
$3.31
PKR933.68
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.20
BTN188.56
|
$1.25
PKR352.24
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.74
BTN148.65
|
$1.64
PKR462.39
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
BTN91.48
|
$0.48
PKR135.89
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.65
BTN56.03
|
$0.38
PKR107.85
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.82
BTN70.44
|
$0.37
PKR104.69
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.37
BTN31.56
|
$0.26
PKR73.52
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.23
BTN19.67
|
$0.19
PKR53.14
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.26
BTN21.95
|
$0.25
PKR70.65
|
|
pay 0.5% less for transportation
Thimphu
|
Islamabad
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.93
BTN335.86
|
$3.81
PKR1,072.55
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$3.97
BTN339.34
|
$6.80
PKR1,916.50
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$21,215.98
BTN1,815,033.45
|
$21,479.46
PKR6,052,109.70
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.09
BTN1,290.69
|
$4.27
PKR1,204.37
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for housing
Thimphu
|
Islamabad
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.25
BTN2,673.07
|
$18.16
PKR5,115.47
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$124.45
BTN10,646.84
|
$174.15
PKR49,069.56
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$79.38
BTN6,791.17
|
$99.01
PKR27,896.44
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$16.69
BTN1,427.59
|
$84.99
PKR23,946.05
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for childcare
Thimphu
|
Islamabad
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$246.05
BTN21,049.35
|
$60.17
PKR16,953.67
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$677.73
BTN57,980.24
|
$3,142.14
PKR885,337.19
|
|
pay 23.9% less for entertainment and sports
Thimphu
|
Islamabad
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.43
BTN550.21
|
$1.79
PKR504.34
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.53
BTN131.09
|
$1.97
PKR554.30
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.83
BTN327.71
|
$2.15
PKR605.21
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$49.11
BTN4,201.47
|
$23.01
PKR6,484.40
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.54
BTN302.51
|
$4.30
PKR1,210.42
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for clothing
Thimphu
|
Islamabad
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$9.43
BTN806.68
|
$19.06
PKR5,369.76
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$11.79
BTN1,008.35
|
$26.18
PKR7,376.01
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$32.41
BTN2,772.97
|
$83.29
PKR23,468.74
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$32.41
BTN2,772.97
|
$38.79
PKR10,930.36
|
|
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