Islamabad vs Ljubljana Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Islamabad leads on CPI (16.3 vs 48.1, NYC=100), Islamabad leads on rent index, and Ljubljana leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Islamabad
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Restaurants (200% gap, Islamabad ahead); Housing (177% gap, Islamabad ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $650 lower in Islamabad than in Ljubljana (~180% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $650 (favoring Islamabad).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Islamabad | CPI 16.3 vs 48.1 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Islamabad | Rent index 9.4 vs 26 (lower is better) |
| Food | Islamabad | Groceries index 23.8 vs 49.7 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Ljubljana | One-way ticket 0.92 vs 87.07 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Ljubljana | Utilities (85m²) 47.84 vs 5226.4 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Ljubljana | Internet 45.21 vs 3775.24 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Islamabad | Restaurant index 15 vs 45 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Islamabad | Avg net salary 482608 vs 3833.09 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Ljubljana | PP index 67.2 vs 28 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Restaurants: Islamabad leads with a 200% gap.
Restaurant index 15 vs 45 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Islamabad — Lower housing / rent index (177% gap).
- Families: Islamabad — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Islamabad; purchasing power favors Ljubljana.
- Remote Workers: Islamabad — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Islamabad (~195% gap).
- Budget Living: Islamabad — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Islamabad is the overall cost winner on CPI (~195% lower everyday-cost index than Ljubljana).
- Housing: Islamabad leads on rent index (177% gap).
- Food / groceries: Islamabad is lower (109% gap).
- Purchasing power: Ljubljana scores higher (140% gap).
- Largest category gap: Restaurants (200%), favoring Islamabad.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$650 cheaper in Islamabad.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 16.3/48.1, rent 9.4/26, purchasing power 28/67.2. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.