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: $391 in Mehar versus $425 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $589 in Mehar versus $670 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $786 in Mehar versus $914 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Mehar costs roughly 8% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.73 PKR 481

4.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,953

$14.24 PKR 3,953

-25.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.01 PKR 1,114

$5.16 PKR 1,433

-22.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 483

$1.55 PKR 431

12.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 969

$3.40 PKR 943

2.65%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 397

$1.71 PKR 476

-16.37%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.86 PKR 239

-12.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.52 PKR 144

15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.29 PKR 359

-6.20%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.16 PKR 323

-2.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 PKR 1,639

$6.23 PKR 1,731

-5.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 PKR 718

$3.32 PKR 921

-21.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.63 PKR 1,009

$4.52 PKR 1,254

-19.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.94 PKR 261

7.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 179

$0.64 PKR 177

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.92 PKR 254

-31.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.50 PKR 139

4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.0

$0.36 PKR 101

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.48 PKR 133

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.26 PKR 72.6

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.33 PKR 369

$16.39 PKR 4,552

-91.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 241

$1.02 PKR 284

-14.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$2.28 PKR 633

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 534

$1.98 PKR 550

-3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.0

$0.21 PKR 57.1

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,957

$9.78 PKR 2,716

-27.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.87 PKR 241

5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.32 PKR 90.1

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.97 PKR 826

-41.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.97 PKR 269

-7.22%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

20.05%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

-0.81%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

0.12%

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

$3.94 PKR 1,095

$4.03 PKR 1,118

-2.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.98 PKR 3,882

$16.21 PKR 4,500

-13.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.18 PKR 3,381

$10.17 PKR 2,824

19.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.88 PKR 1,633

$7.48 PKR 2,076

-21.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 PKR 956

$3.59 PKR 997

-4.18%

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

$29.49 PKR 8,186

$40.91 PKR 11.4K

-27.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,128 PKR 313.2K

$955 PKR 265.1K

18.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.46 PKR 4,293

$11.81 PKR 3,279

30.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.26 PKR 6,180

$18.85 PKR 5,232

18.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 PKR 19.5K

$88.5 PKR 24.6K

-20.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.10 PKR 8,080

$28.57 PKR 7,933

1.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

$130 PKR 36.0K

-42.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

$65.8 PKR 18.3K

-21.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.9K

$325 PKR 90.2K

-49.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$172 PKR 47.8K

-39.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$787 PKR 218.5K

$1,167 PKR 324.0K

-32.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$434 PKR 120.6K

$520 PKR 144.3K

-16.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$109 PKR 30.3K

$172 PKR 47.7K

-36.51%

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.2 in Mehar and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 58% 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 $86.0 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 9% 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 58% 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: $75.2 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 $391 per month in Mehar versus $425 in Rawalpindi – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 39% 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 9% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.