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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $437 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $671 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $905 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 22% more than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Islamabad and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$1.82 PKR 505

56.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$13.95 PKR 3,873

2.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$5.40 PKR 1,499

0.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.56 PKR 433

10.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$3.53 PKR 980

8.22%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.71 PKR 474

15.20%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.31 PKR 87.1

29.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.23 PKR 63.9

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.86 PKR 239

11.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.53 PKR 146

24.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.30 PKR 361

-1.54%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.12 PKR 312

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$6.03 PKR 1,674

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$3.43 PKR 953

-1.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-1.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.01 PKR 280

2.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.69 PKR 191

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.85 PKR 236

7.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.47 PKR 129

19.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.34 PKR 94.1

20.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.52 PKR 145

9.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.24 PKR 66.0

29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.39 PKR 109

5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-87.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.99 PKR 274

-6.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$2.40 PKR 666

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.91 PKR 531

12.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.20 PKR 56.1

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-24.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.86 PKR 240

-1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.32 PKR 89.7

34.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$2.92 PKR 811

-4.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.97 PKR 270

1.03%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

18.45%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

13.91%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$104 PKR 28.8K

9.65%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$4.04 PKR 1,121

33.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$16.63 PKR 4,618

12.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$9.97 PKR 2,768

121.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$7.43 PKR 2,062

-17.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$3.47 PKR 964

19.31%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

49.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$948 PKR 263.3K

190.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$11.90 PKR 3,304

77.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$18.45 PKR 5,124

49.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-1.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$29.00 PKR 8,052

41.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$133 PKR 36.8K

50.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

69.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$330 PKR 91.6K

52.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$171 PKR 47.4K

74.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

28.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$518 PKR 143.8K

25.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$175 PKR 48.5K

120.48%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $133 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 120% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Islamabad vs $95.0 in Rawalpindi – so Rawalpindi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Islamabad vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Islamabad and $656 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.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

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

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $534 in Islamabad and $437 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, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.