Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Rawalpindi

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 20.4% more expensive than Rawalpindi without rent, and 25.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 14.1% more expensive than Rawalpindi without rent, and 25.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 PKR 806
$1.73 PKR 489
64.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.4 PKR 4,068
$13.98 PKR 3,948
3.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 PKR 1,491
$5.29 PKR 1,493
-0.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 PKR 496
$1.57 PKR 444
11.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 PKR 1,083
$3.37 PKR 951
13.65%
Cappuccino
$2.01 PKR 567
$1.63 PKR 461
23.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 111
$0.32 PKR 89
21.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 68.1
$0.23 PKR 65.1
4.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 PKR 282
$0.78 PKR 221
28.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 PKR 188
$0.52 PKR 147
28.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 344
$1.24 PKR 350
-1.61%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 358
$1.13 PKR 320
12.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.15 PKR 1,736
$5.99 PKR 1,693
2.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 PKR 1,004
$3.28 PKR 926
8.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.31 PKR 1,216
$4.57 PKR 1,289
-5.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 292
$0.94 PKR 266
9.57%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.69 PKR 195
23.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.9 PKR 255
$0.86 PKR 243
4.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 167
$0.47 PKR 134
25.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.34 PKR 95.8
23.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 148
$0.52 PKR 148
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKR 87.3
$0.26 PKR 73.6
19.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 PKR 114
$0.39 PKR 111
2.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.78 PKR 503
$15.94 PKR 4,502
-88.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PKR 247
$0.99 PKR 280
-12.12%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 PKR 554
$2.31 PKR 652
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 613
$1.93 PKR 546
12.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53
$0.19 PKR 52.5
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.95 PKR 1,964
$9.81 PKR 2,770
-29.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.87 PKR 245
-2.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 123
$0.35 PKR 99.1
25.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.9 PKR 820
$2.95 PKR 833
-1.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 277
$0.95 PKR 268
3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
$17.6K PKR 5M
22.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K PKR 7.3M
$22.5K PKR 6.3M
15.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.3K
$103 PKR 29.2K
7.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.35 PKR 1,512
$3.99 PKR 1,126
34.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.38 PKR 5,191
$16.44 PKR 4,643
11.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.44 PKR 6,339
$9.99 PKR 2,822
124.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 PKR 1,700
$7.76 PKR 2,192
-22.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.3 PKR 1,214
$3.6 PKR 1,018
19.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
$40.12 PKR 11.3K
47.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,713 PKR 766.3K
$946 PKR 267.2K
186.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.17 PKR 5,980
$11.56 PKR 3,266
83.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.14 PKR 7,947
$18.51 PKR 5,229
52.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 PKR 24.8K
$88.7 PKR 25.1K
-1.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.86 PKR 11.3K
$28.41 PKR 8,023
40.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 PKR 57K
$131 PKR 36.9K
54.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.5K
$64.8 PKR 18.3K
72.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PKR 141.1K
$335 PKR 94.5K
49.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 PKR 84.3K
$173 PKR 48.9K
72.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,315 PKR 371.4K
$1,151 PKR 325.1K
14.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$781 PKR 220.5K
$515 PKR 145.3K
51.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$289 PKR 81.6K
$167 PKR 47.2K
72.92%
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 Islamabad: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rawalpindi: October 29, 2025

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