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: $439 in Mehar versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $654 in Mehar versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $870 in Mehar versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Mehar costs roughly 13% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mehar 68% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 PKR 561

$2.12 PKR 588

-4.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.95 PKR 3,034

$15.93 PKR 4,415

-31.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PKR 1,666

$5.89 PKR 1,633

2.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 PKR 726

$1.81 PKR 502

44.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.02 PKR 1,392

$3.52 PKR 976

42.61%

Cappuccino

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.94 PKR 537

-19.59%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.44 PKR 122

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 228

$0.90 PKR 250

-8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 PKR 176

$0.55 PKR 152

16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.23 PKR 342

-4.07%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 345

$1.11 PKR 307

12.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 PKR 1,662

$6.16 PKR 1,708

-2.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.65 PKR 735

$3.57 PKR 988

-25.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.86 PKR 1,346

$5.22 PKR 1,446

-6.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.14 PKR 316

4.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.86 PKR 237

-34.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 PKR 203

$1.23 PKR 340

-40.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.57 PKR 158

-14.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.0

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.6

$0.46 PKR 127

-23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 95.4

$0.33 PKR 92.1

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.40 PKR 111

-17.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 550

$16.28 PKR 4,514

-87.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.20 PKR 332

-5.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 PKR 642

$2.46 PKR 681

-6.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 PKR 678

$1.93 PKR 534

26.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.2

$0.16 PKR 43.62

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,770

$10.12 PKR 2,806

-1.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 PKR 313

$0.91 PKR 253

24.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.38 PKR 104

60.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$3.16 PKR 876

-45.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.13 PKR 312

2.65%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

26.28%

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

$28.7K PKR 8.0M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

14.84%

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

$95.3 PKR 26.4K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-17.13%

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

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$5.49 PKR 1,522

0.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.66 PKR 4,063

$18.67 PKR 5,175

-21.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.55 PKR 4,034

$12.12 PKR 3,361

20.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,871

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 PKR 1,213

$4.28 PKR 1,187

2.34%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

-8.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$944 PKR 261.7K

$844 PKR 233.9K

11.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.64 PKR 3,781

$20.85 PKR 5,780

-34.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.66 PKR 6,283

$28.03 PKR 7,770

-19.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 PKR 18.2K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

-27.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.72 PKR 7,685

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

-23.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$204 PKR 56.6K

-38.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.7 PKR 21.6K

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

-5.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 PKR 70.6K

$438 PKR 121.5K

-41.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 PKR 41.2K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-34.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$953 PKR 264.2K

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

-18.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.3K

$512 PKR 142.0K

-0.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$175 PKR 48.4K

-39.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

22.81

-43.53%

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

Last update for Mehar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Mehar and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 64% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $92.0 vs $103 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 15% 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, salaries run 64% lower in Rawalpindi. 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: $126 in Mehar versus $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $439 per month in Mehar versus $504 in Rawalpindi – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 1% 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 15% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.