🇵🇰 Pakistan · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Faisalabad? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Two-bed apartment or portion, Madina Town or Peoples ColonyPKR 35,000–75,000 / month
Two-bed flat, Ghulam Muhammad Abad, Samanabad or Millat TownPKR 18,000–35,000 / month
Utilities — FESCO electricity, gas and water, one householdPKR 15,000–38,000 / month, peaking with summer air conditioning
Groceries, one personPKR 24,000–42,000 / month
Electric bus fare per journey, or a typical ride across the cityPKR 20 on the e-bus routes; PKR 250–700 by ride-hailing car and PKR 120–300 by rickshaw
Good to know
Population
3.69 million in the city at the 2023 census — Pakistan's third largest, after Karachi and Lahore
Languages
Punjabi is the language of the street, the mill floor and the home; Urdu is the official and educated register; English dominates export business, law and higher education
Currency
Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Time zone
PKT (GMT+5) — no daylight saving
Power plug
Type C and D, 230 V, distributed by FESCO — the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company
Climate
Hot semi-arid — 45°C in May and June, a July–August monsoon, cold foggy Decembers, and Punjab's winter smog season from November to January
Province
Punjab, so tenancy runs under the Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009 with Rent Tribunals, licensing through DLIMS, and services tax through the Punjab Revenue Authority
Public transport
An electric bus service launched in September 2025 — thirty buses on seven routes at a PKR 20 fare, with a metro bus project announced. There is no metro and no bus rapid transit, so ride-hailing, rickshaws and private cars still carry most journeys
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Faisalabad checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Faisalabad
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.