Cost of Living Comparison Between Abbottabad and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Abbottabad and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $307 per month in Abbottabad vs $437 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $480 per month in Abbottabad vs $671 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $653 per month in Abbottabad vs $905 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Abbottabad is about 30% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Abbottabad and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Abbottabad 77% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.82 PKR 505

-4.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.57 PKR 3,490

$13.95 PKR 3,873

-9.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 PKR 1,514

$5.40 PKR 1,499

0.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 485

$1.56 PKR 433

12.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PKR 478

$3.53 PKR 980

-51.27%

Cappuccino

$1.45 PKR 403

$1.71 PKR 474

-15.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

$0.31 PKR 87.1

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.23 PKR 63.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.86 PKR 239

-3.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.53 PKR 146

15.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.30 PKR 361

-10.77%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.12 PKR 312

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$6.03 PKR 1,674

-39.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.24 PKR 623

$3.43 PKR 954

-34.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 PKR 1,267

$4.40 PKR 1,221

3.64%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$1.01 PKR 280

-16.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PKR 221

$0.69 PKR 191

14.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 226

$0.85 PKR 236

-3.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.47 PKR 129

6.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.34 PKR 94.1

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

$0.24 PKR 66.0

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.8

$0.39 PKR 109

-48.72%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.92 PKR 532

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-88.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.99 PKR 274

-7.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

$2.40 PKR 666

-14.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 PKR 499

$1.91 PKR 532

-5.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.20 PKR 56.1

30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.89 PKR 1,914

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-27.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.86 PKR 240

-1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.32 PKR 89.7

28.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 762

$2.92 PKR 811

-5.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.97 PKR 270

-8.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

22.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

13.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.75 PKR 12.4K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-56.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.99 PKR 831

$4.04 PKR 1,121

-25.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.53 PKR 5,146

$16.63 PKR 4,618

11.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.35 PKR 4,818

$9.97 PKR 2,768

74.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.60 PKR 999

$7.43 PKR 2,062

-51.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PKR 1,156

$3.47 PKR 964

19.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$35.10 PKR 9,747

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

-12.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$540 PKR 149.8K

$948 PKR 263.3K

-43.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.97 PKR 2,492

$11.90 PKR 3,304

-24.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.17 PKR 1,991

$18.45 PKR 5,124

-61.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 PKR 24.6K

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-1.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.54 PKR 3,481

$29.00 PKR 8,053

-56.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$35.82 PKR 9,946

$133 PKR 36.8K

-72.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$21.00 PKR 5,832

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

-67.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 46.8K

$330 PKR 91.6K

-48.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$42.10 PKR 11.7K

$171 PKR 47.4K

-75.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$229 PKR 63.6K

$175 PKR 48.5K

31.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

20.17

0.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abbottabad: July 13, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $35.82 in Abbottabad versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Abbottabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Abbottabad versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 vs $95.0 – making Abbottabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abbottabad vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 42% more than Abbottabad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $461 per month in Abbottabad and $656 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abbottabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 38% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $35.10 per month in Abbottabad and $40.20 in Rawalpindi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $307 in Abbottabad and $437 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Abbottabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Abbottabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.