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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $429 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $679 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $929 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 23% more than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$1.78 PKR 496

57.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$14.22 PKR 3,957

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.29 PKR 1,470

2.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.54 PKR 429

11.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.40 PKR 947

17.65%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.73 PKR 481

15.61%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.32 PKR 88.9

34.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.79 PKR 219

18.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.57 PKR 158

8.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.23 PKR 343

-1.63%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.12 PKR 311

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.09 PKR 1,693

-0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.39 PKR 944

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-4.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 283

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.67 PKR 186

16.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.92 PKR 257

1.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.47 PKR 132

27.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.33 PKR 93.2

24.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.52 PKR 144

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.26 PKR 72.7

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.37 PKR 102

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-88.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.04 PKR 288

-13.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.41 PKR 669

-17.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.90 PKR 528

12.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.18 PKR 49.36

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-30.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.91 PKR 253

-5.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.35 PKR 97.5

25.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$2.97 PKR 826

-5.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.96 PKR 267

-5.21%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

19.57%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

14.88%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$100 PKR 28.0K

11.21%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.99 PKR 1,111

36.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$16.64 PKR 4,630

13.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$10.14 PKR 2,821

118.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-21.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.60 PKR 1,003

16.94%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

51.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$962 PKR 267.6K

191.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$11.80 PKR 3,282

82.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$18.84 PKR 5,242

46.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$28.38 PKR 7,896

40.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$130 PKR 36.1K

52.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

68.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$324 PKR 90.1K

58.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$173 PKR 48.1K

71.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

32.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$516 PKR 143.6K

27.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$171 PKR 47.6K

126.52%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad 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 127% 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 – $98.0 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 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad 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.

Groceries cost about 4% 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 $529 in Islamabad 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, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.