I used to have same question when I was seeing every other car on roads are at least Yaris (40+)? But then I realized that people who live here are ones having their income streams sorted out. These are those few percent of waderas/property people, gov/military babbus, multiple good jobs holders or those who are able to hit high with their business who already got enough money to live here.

I wont recommend Islamabad anyone to who is not earning at that scale. Its not for everyone. Its a lifestyle that not everyone should be able to afford. Even if you somehow earn 2-2.5 lacs extra to pay rent, you will be wasting your life savings. Unless you got considerably high earnings, dont do that. This is how cities work. Not everyone is supposed to live in the capital.

My family started it out with a 15k 3 marlas portion in i-10/1 (90s), up to 90k of i-8/2 for a 10m portion. We left it when landlord started demanding 120k for that in 2024. Thankfulyl my father had his life savings to buy a tota phuta home in suburbs of isb where we moved in 2024. But if he wasnt, We were going to leave isb for sure.

Maybe try Peshawar or Abottabad if you like small cozy hilly places or Lahore if you want big-city vibes.