Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $459 per month in Hyderabad vs $429 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $685 per month in Hyderabad vs $679 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $911 per month in Hyderabad vs $929 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Hyderabad costs about 7% more than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hyderabad and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad 66% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 498

$1.78 PKR 496

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,991

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-24.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.16 PKR 1,158

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-21.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 PKR 527

$1.54 PKR 429

22.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 PKR 1,518

$3.40 PKR 947

60.59%

Cappuccino

$0.95 PKR 264

$1.73 PKR 481

-45.09%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.32 PKR 88.9

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.3

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.79 PKR 219

-8.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.57 PKR 158

-7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.23 PKR 343

-5.69%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.12 PKR 311

2.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.09 PKR 1,693

0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.75 PKR 765

$3.39 PKR 944

-18.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.00 PKR 1,111

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-12.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.02 PKR 283

6.86%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.67 PKR 186

-13.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.92 PKR 257

-7.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.47 PKR 132

19.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.9

$0.33 PKR 93.2

9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.52 PKR 145

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.26 PKR 72.7

46.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.37 PKR 102

10.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.91 PKR 254

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-94.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.04 PKR 288

21.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 PKR 588

$2.41 PKR 669

-12.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 PKR 603

$1.90 PKR 528

14.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.3

$0.18 PKR 49.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.84 PKR 2,737

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-0.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.91 PKR 253

-28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.19 PKR 52.4

$0.35 PKR 97.5

-45.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 192

$2.97 PKR 826

-76.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 243

$0.96 PKR 267

-9.37%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-7.48%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

1.16%

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

$135 PKR 37.5K

$100 PKR 28.0K

34.01%

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

$4.64 PKR 1,292

$3.99 PKR 1,111

16.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.73 PKR 3,820

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-17.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.28 PKR 5,642

$10.14 PKR 2,821

100.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.59 PKR 997

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-53.19%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 PKR 956

$3.60 PKR 1,003

-4.72%

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

$41.18 PKR 11.5K

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

3.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 PKR 304.5K

$962 PKR 267.7K

13.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.79 PKR 4,949

$11.80 PKR 3,282

50.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.99 PKR 6,952

$18.84 PKR 5,243

32.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.4 PKR 17.9K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-26.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.32 PKR 10.1K

$28.38 PKR 7,897

27.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.2K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-8.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.1 PKR 18.9K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

2.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-8.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.2K

$173 PKR 48.1K

14.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$580 PKR 161.4K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-50.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$195 PKR 54.2K

$516 PKR 143.6K

-62.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.5K

$171 PKR 47.6K

-0.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-25.63%

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

Last update for Hyderabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $119 in Hyderabad 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 0% higher in Rawalpindi, 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 $11.00 in Hyderabad versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $95.0 – making Hyderabad 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

Hyderabad vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hyderabad costs about 7% more than Rawalpindi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $688 per month in Hyderabad 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 Rawalpindi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Hyderabad and $14.00 in Rawalpindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $459 in Hyderabad and $429 in Rawalpindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $459 in Hyderabad and $429 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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