Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujranwala and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujranwala and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $395 per month in Gujranwala vs $504 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $624 per month in Gujranwala vs $786 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $853 per month in Gujranwala vs $1,069 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Gujranwala is about 22% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Gujranwala and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Gujranwala 71% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58 PKR 992
$2.12 PKR 588
68.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.47 PKR 3,458
$15.93 PKR 4,416
-21.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 PKR 1,511
$5.89 PKR 1,633
-7.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 PKR 247
$1.81 PKR 502
-50.83%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75 PKR 1,873
$3.52 PKR 976
91.76%
Cappuccino
$1.14 PKR 315
$1.94 PKR 538
-41.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.2
$0.44 PKR 122
-52.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 PKR 44.89
$0.25 PKR 69.4
-36.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 PKR 238
$0.90 PKR 250
-4.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 PKR 202
$0.55 PKR 152
32.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 314
$1.23 PKR 342
-8.13%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 353
$1.11 PKR 307
14.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.05 PKR 1,676
$6.16 PKR 1,708
-1.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.38 PKR 659
$3.57 PKR 988
-33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.19 PKR 1,438
$5.22 PKR 1,446
-0.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.34 PKR 373
$1.14 PKR 316
17.54%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 PKR 230
$0.86 PKR 237
-3.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 PKR 255
$1.23 PKR 340
-25.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 134
$0.57 PKR 158
-15.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.29 PKR 81.1
$0.36 PKR 99.3
-19.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.32 PKR 89.7
$0.46 PKR 127
-30.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 PKR 73.8
$0.33 PKR 92.1
-18.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 101
$0.40 PKR 111
-7.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.82 PKR 506
$16.28 PKR 4,515
-88.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 PKR 305
$1.20 PKR 332
-8.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 PKR 671
$2.46 PKR 681
-1.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 PKR 606
$1.93 PKR 535
12.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 52.1
$0.16 PKR 43.62
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.12 PKR 2,807
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 PKR 262
$0.91 PKR 253
4.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 PKR 190
$0.38 PKR 104
81.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.46 PKR 405
$3.16 PKR 876
-53.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 PKR 317
$1.13 PKR 312
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K PKR 5.0M
$18.2K PKR 5.1M
-1.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K PKR 5.9M
$25.0K PKR 6.9M
-14.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 PKR 28.1K
$115 PKR 31.9K
-11.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49 PKR 1,522
$5.49 PKR 1,522
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.34 PKR 4,529
$18.67 PKR 5,175
-12.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$7.18 PKR 1,989
$12.12 PKR 3,361
-40.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.94 PKR 1,646
$6.75 PKR 1,872
-12.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 PKR 1,175
$4.28 PKR 1,187
-0.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$28.01 PKR 7,765
$48.47 PKR 13.4K
-42.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$961 PKR 266.5K
$844 PKR 234.0K
13.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.42 PKR 3,998
$20.85 PKR 5,780
-30.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 PKR 6,916
$28.03 PKR 7,771
-10.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.4 PKR 20.3K
$91.0 PKR 25.2K
-19.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.45 PKR 9,275
$36.28 PKR 10.1K
-7.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$54.7 PKR 15.2K
$204 PKR 56.7K
-73.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$31.57 PKR 8,754
$82.0 PKR 22.7K
-61.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$162 PKR 44.8K
$438 PKR 121.5K
-63.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.7 PKR 26.8K
$225 PKR 62.5K
-57.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,164 PKR 322.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$512 PKR 142.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gujranwala
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$238 PKR 66.0K
$175 PKR 48.4K
36.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
22.81
-49.58%

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

Last update for Gujranwala: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $54.7 in Gujranwala versus $204 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 36% higher in Gujranwala, 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 Gujranwala versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $96.0 vs $103 – making Gujranwala 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
Gujranwala vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Gujranwala and in Rawalpindi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $395 in Gujranwala, $504 in Rawalpindi – roughly 27% apart. Rawalpindi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Gujranwala compared to Rawalpindi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $593 per month in Gujranwala and $756 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Gujranwala and Rawalpindi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gujranwala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Gujranwala and $16.00 in Rawalpindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Gujranwala compared to Rawalpindi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $395 in Gujranwala and $504 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Gujranwala or Rawalpindi?
Families tend to lean toward Gujranwala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Gujranwala and Rawalpindi?
If budget matters most, go with Gujranwala. 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.

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