🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $419 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $495 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $630 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $781 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $841 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $1,067 in Rawalpindi.
🌍Living in Dera Ghazi Khan costs roughly 15% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dera Ghazi Khan69% lower, Rawalpindi64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.83PKR 507
$2.05PKR 569
-10.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.92PKR 3,026
$16.07PKR 4,452
-32.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.46PKR 1,513
$5.84PKR 1,617
-6.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49PKR 691
$1.76PKR 487
41.48%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15PKR 597
$3.50PKR 971
-38.57%
Cappuccino
$1.45PKR 401
$1.98PKR 549
-26.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46PKR 128
$0.44PKR 121
4.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 82.3
$0.25PKR 69.4
20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84PKR 233
$0.91PKR 251
-7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 172
$0.54PKR 151
14.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26PKR 350
$1.23PKR 340
2.44%
Eggs
$1.19PKR 329
$1.11PKR 308
7.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.77PKR 2,430
$6.32PKR 1,752
38.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.64PKR 731
$3.57PKR 990
-26.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.00PKR 1,107
$5.05PKR 1,398
-20.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.09PKR 302
$1.20PKR 331
-9.17%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62PKR 171
$0.84PKR 232
-26.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.54PKR 151
$1.22PKR 338
-55.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 132
$0.53PKR 146
-9.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29PKR 79.6
$0.36PKR 99.5
-19.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.45PKR 124
15.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50PKR 139
$0.31PKR 84.9
61.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.43PKR 118
-6.98%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.52PKR 144
$16.09PKR 4,458
-96.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.52PKR 144
$1.14PKR 316
-54.39%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75PKR 209
$2.37PKR 657
-68.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32PKR 642
$1.93PKR 535
20.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.9
$0.18PKR 50.5
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.94PKR 2,752
$9.99PKR 2,767
-0.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10PKR 303
$0.93PKR 258
18.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06PKR 295
$0.35PKR 96.1
202.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92PKR 809
$3.11PKR 861
-6.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 264
$1.13PKR 313
-15.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KPKR 6.4M
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
29.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KPKR 6.4M
$24.1KPKR 6.7M
-4.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.1PKR 18.9K
$113PKR 31.2K
-39.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.66PKR 1,569
$5.55PKR 1,537
1.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.51PKR 4,020
$18.88PKR 5,229
-23.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.18PKR 4,206
$12.11PKR 3,354
25.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.81PKR 1,886
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.09PKR 1,964
$4.26PKR 1,179
66.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$26.95PKR 7,465
$48.70PKR 13.5K
-44.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,022PKR 560.1K
$833PKR 230.8K
142.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.03PKR 5,272
$20.41PKR 5,653
-6.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.07PKR 7,222
$28.85PKR 7,993
-9.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.1PKR 14.7K
$93.7PKR 26.0K
-43.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.24PKR 8,100
$36.19PKR 10.0K
-19.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$140PKR 38.8K
$201PKR 55.6K
-30.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$86.4PKR 23.9K
$83.0PKR 23.0K
4.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$222PKR 61.5K
$428PKR 118.6K
-48.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$141PKR 39.0K
$226PKR 62.6K
-37.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$905PKR 250.6K
$1,170PKR 324.1K
-22.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$517PKR 143.2K
$507PKR 140.5K
1.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dera Ghazi Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$173PKR 48.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.83
22.81
-48.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: September 12, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $103 per month, with Dera Ghazi Khan cheaper across the board.
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
Dera Ghazi Khan vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dera Ghazi Khan and in Rawalpindi?
Dera Ghazi Khan and Rawalpindi differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($419 vs $495 including rent). Dera Ghazi Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Dera Ghazi Khan compared to Rawalpindi?
You'd need roughly $629 in Dera Ghazi Khan and $742 in Rawalpindi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Dera Ghazi Khan and in Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $140 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Dera Ghazi Khan and in Rawalpindi?
A monthly transit pass in Dera Ghazi Khan runs roughly 1% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dera Ghazi Khan and Rawalpindi?
Childcare runs $26.95 in Dera Ghazi Khan versus $48.70 in Rawalpindi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $1,200 go in Dera Ghazi Khan compared to Rawalpindi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Dera Ghazi Khan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Dera Ghazi Khan and Rawalpindi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Dera Ghazi Khan or Rawalpindi?
Expats usually find Dera Ghazi Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dera Ghazi Khan vs other spots: cost of living compared