Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $390 in Mehar versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $584 in Mehar versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $778 in Mehar versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Mehar costs roughly 9% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mehar 71% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 488

$1.78 PKR 496

-1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.59 PKR 2,946

$14.22 PKR 3,958

-25.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,110

$5.29 PKR 1,471

-24.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.54 PKR 429

12.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PKR 957

$3.40 PKR 947

1.18%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 402

$1.73 PKR 481

-16.76%

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

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$0.32 PKR 88.9

9.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.79 PKR 219

-1.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.57 PKR 158

-1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.23 PKR 343

-2.44%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.12 PKR 311

4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 PKR 1,703

$6.09 PKR 1,694

0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.68 PKR 747

$3.39 PKR 944

-20.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 PKR 1,050

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-17.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.02 PKR 283

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.67 PKR 186

-2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.92 PKR 257

-33.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.47 PKR 132

2.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.33 PKR 93.2

15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.52 PKR 145

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.1

$0.26 PKR 72.8

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.7

$0.37 PKR 102

-8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.49 PKR 416

$16.44 PKR 4,575

-90.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$1.04 PKR 289

-10.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 565

$2.41 PKR 670

-15.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 535

$1.90 PKR 528

1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.2

$0.18 PKR 49.38

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,013

$9.89 PKR 2,752

-26.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 255

$0.91 PKR 253

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.35 PKR 97.6

25.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.97 PKR 826

-38.72%

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

19.61%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

2.04%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$100 PKR 28.0K

2.45%

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

$4.08 PKR 1,136

$3.99 PKR 1,111

2.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.55 PKR 3,770

$16.64 PKR 4,631

-18.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.53 PKR 3,487

$10.14 PKR 2,822

23.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 PKR 1,665

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-22.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.52 PKR 980

$3.60 PKR 1,003

-2.22%

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

$30.10 PKR 8,377

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-24.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,126 PKR 313.4K

$962 PKR 267.7K

17.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.93 PKR 4,155

$11.80 PKR 3,283

26.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.83 PKR 6,076

$18.84 PKR 5,244

15.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-20.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,183

$28.38 PKR 7,899

3.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-43.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-23.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.6K

$324 PKR 90.2K

-48.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-38.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,059 PKR 294.8K

$1,173 PKR 326.5K

-9.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.9K

$516 PKR 143.6K

-10.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$171 PKR 47.6K

-38.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-5.80%

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

Last update for Mehar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Mehar and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 61% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Mehar vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Mehar cheaper across the board.

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

Mehar vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mehar wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mehar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Rawalpindi earns 61% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $73.9 in Mehar versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $390 per month in Mehar versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 37% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mehar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Mehar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.