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

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 20.8% more expensive than Rawalpindi without rent, and 25.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 14.3% more expensive than Rawalpindi without rent, and 28.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 PKR 771
$1.80 PKR 502
53.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.25 PKR 3,975
$14.33 PKR 3,997
-0.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,485
$5.25 PKR 1,464
1.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 PKR 482
$1.54 PKR 431
12.34%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PKR 1,109
$3.43 PKR 956
16.03%
Cappuccino
$2.08 PKR 581
$1.63 PKR 455
27.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.32 PKR 88.3
31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 67.2
$0.21 PKR 58.6
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 269
$0.80 PKR 224
21.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 PKR 185
$0.56 PKR 156
17.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 352
$1.28 PKR 358
-1.56%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 355
$1.17 PKR 326
8.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 PKR 1,680
$6.27 PKR 1,749
-3.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 PKR 958
$3.26 PKR 908
5.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 PKR 1,227
$4.39 PKR 1,226
0.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 279
$0.94 PKR 262
6.38%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.69 PKR 192
23.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.85 PKR 237
5.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.47 PKR 130
21.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.37 PKR 102
2.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.51 PKR 143
11.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 93.0
$0.26 PKR 73.1
26.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.36 PKR 101
2.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.91 PKR 534
$15.97 PKR 4,456
-88.04%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 PKR 255
$1.03 PKR 286
-11.65%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 PKR 566
$2.30 PKR 642
-11.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 PKR 576
$1.92 PKR 537
7.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.4
$0.19 PKR 53.0
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,924
$9.85 PKR 2,749
-29.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.84 PKR 235
8.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.33 PKR 92.0
21.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 PKR 801
$2.99 PKR 834
-4.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 258
$0.94 PKR 263
-2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
$17.8K PKR 5.0M
17.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
14.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$103 PKR 28.9K
7.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57 PKR 1,555
$4.18 PKR 1,166
33.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 PKR 5,217
$16.52 PKR 4,609
13.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.29 PKR 6,219
$9.86 PKR 2,750
126.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 PKR 1,634
$7.47 PKR 2,085
-21.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 PKR 1,200
$3.60 PKR 1,005
19.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
$40.92 PKR 11.4K
48.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,738 PKR 763.9K
$965 PKR 269.3K
183.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.38 PKR 5,964
$11.87 PKR 3,312
80.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.45 PKR 7,935
$18.81 PKR 5,246
51.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
$86.8 PKR 24.2K
3.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
$28.11 PKR 7,840
42.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 PKR 55.0K
$131 PKR 36.5K
50.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$64.9 PKR 18.1K
71.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 PKR 140.8K
$334 PKR 93.0K
51.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 PKR 81.6K
$173 PKR 48.2K
69.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,535 PKR 428.1K
$1,171 PKR 326.8K
31.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$752 PKR 209.7K
$517 PKR 144.2K
45.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 PKR 84.7K
$172 PKR 48.0K
76.58%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 13, 2026

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

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