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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $309 per month in Abbottabad vs $429 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $484 per month in Abbottabad vs $679 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $659 per month in Abbottabad vs $929 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Abbottabad is about 28% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Abbottabad and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Abbottabad 77% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.78 PKR 496

-3.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.16 PKR 3,384

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-14.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 PKR 1,469

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-0.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.54 PKR 429

16.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PKR 479

$3.40 PKR 947

-49.41%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 400

$1.73 PKR 481

-16.76%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.1

$0.32 PKR 88.9

-3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 216

$0.79 PKR 219

-2.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.57 PKR 158

15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.23 PKR 343

-6.50%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.12 PKR 311

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.61 PKR 1,004

$6.09 PKR 1,693

-40.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 PKR 628

$3.39 PKR 944

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 PKR 1,269

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$1.02 PKR 283

-9.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.67 PKR 186

17.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.92 PKR 257

-8.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.47 PKR 132

12.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.5

$0.33 PKR 93.2

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.52 PKR 145

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.26 PKR 72.7

19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 45.67

$0.37 PKR 102

-56.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 550

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-87.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 241

$1.04 PKR 288

-16.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 566

$2.41 PKR 669

-15.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.90 PKR 528

-4.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 PKR 66.3

$0.18 PKR 49.37

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.11 PKR 1,978

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-28.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.91 PKR 253

-1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.35 PKR 97.5

22.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PKR 766

$2.97 PKR 826

-7.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.96 PKR 267

-1.04%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

17.35%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

13.63%

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

$43.84 PKR 12.2K

$100 PKR 28.0K

-56.37%

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

$3.07 PKR 855

$3.99 PKR 1,111

-23.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.44 PKR 5,129

$16.64 PKR 4,630

10.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.48 PKR 4,864

$10.14 PKR 2,821

72.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.52 PKR 979

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-54.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,196

$3.60 PKR 1,003

19.44%

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

$35.21 PKR 9,796

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-11.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$524 PKR 145.7K

$962 PKR 267.7K

-45.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.10 PKR 2,531

$11.80 PKR 3,282

-22.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.98 PKR 1,943

$18.84 PKR 5,243

-62.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 PKR 24.3K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.54 PKR 3,488

$28.38 PKR 7,897

-55.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$35.28 PKR 9,815

$130 PKR 36.1K

-72.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$21.23 PKR 5,906

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-68.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.1K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-47.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$42.22 PKR 11.7K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-75.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$236 PKR 65.6K

$171 PKR 47.6K

37.93%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $35.28 in Abbottabad versus $130 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 38% 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 $12.00 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 39% 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 $463 per month in Abbottabad and $644 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 39% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $35.21 per month in Abbottabad and $39.75 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 $309 in Abbottabad and $429 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.