😐A single person spends $456 per month in Mianwali vs $437 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $665 per month in Mianwali vs $671 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $874 per month in Mianwali vs $905 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
😐Mianwali costs about 4% more than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mianwali and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Mianwali66% lower, Rawalpindi67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11PKR 585
$1.82PKR 505
15.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.07PKR 3,906
$13.95PKR 3,873
0.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.28PKR 1,189
$5.40PKR 1,499
-20.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.87PKR 798
$1.56PKR 433
83.97%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75PKR 1,041
$3.53PKR 980
6.23%
Cappuccino
$2.35PKR 652
$1.71PKR 474
37.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 54.6
$0.31PKR 87.1
-35.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.2
$0.23PKR 63.9
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67PKR 185
$0.86PKR 239
-22.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.53PKR 146
7.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90PKR 249
$1.30PKR 361
-30.77%
Eggs
$1.17PKR 326
$1.12PKR 312
4.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.11PKR 1,696
$6.03PKR 1,674
1.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92PKR 811
$3.43PKR 953
-14.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.42PKR 1,227
$4.40PKR 1,221
0.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 282
$1.01PKR 280
0.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.69PKR 191
-13.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$0.85PKR 236
-29.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$0.47PKR 129
-53.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 97.6
$0.34PKR 94.1
2.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.52PKR 145
-30.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45PKR 125
$0.24PKR 66.0
87.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 106
$0.39PKR 109
-2.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.05PKR 291
$16.04PKR 4,454
-93.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51PKR 142
$0.99PKR 274
-48.48%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11PKR 308
$2.40PKR 666
-53.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89PKR 525
$1.91PKR 531
-1.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 44.36
$0.20PKR 56.1
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.15PKR 1,986
$9.52PKR 2,645
-24.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73PKR 203
$0.86PKR 240
-15.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 148
$0.32PKR 89.7
65.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82PKR 504
$2.92PKR 811
-37.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 252
$0.97PKR 270
-6.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
-1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.4M
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141PKR 39.1K
$104PKR 28.8K
35.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.63PKR 1,009
$4.04PKR 1,121
-10.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.00PKR 4,721
$16.63PKR 4,618
2.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.23PKR 3,396
$9.97PKR 2,768
22.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86PKR 1,626
$7.43PKR 2,062
-21.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22PKR 1,171
$3.47PKR 964
21.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.40PKR 9,829
$40.20PKR 11.2K
-11.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,233PKR 342.5K
$948PKR 263.3K
30.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.97PKR 4,156
$11.90PKR 3,304
25.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.37PKR 6,490
$18.45PKR 5,124
26.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8PKR 20.2K
$89.5PKR 24.9K
-18.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.12PKR 8,364
$29.00PKR 8,052
3.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$74.7PKR 20.8K
$133PKR 36.8K
-43.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.3PKR 14.2K
$65.1PKR 18.1K
-21.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164PKR 45.4K
$330PKR 91.6K
-50.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$105PKR 29.1K
$171PKR 47.4K
-38.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$858PKR 238.1K
$1,176PKR 326.5K
-27.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$412PKR 114.4K
$518PKR 143.8K
-20.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$175PKR 48.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.88
20.17
-1.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mianwali: July 13, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $74.7 in Mianwali 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Mianwali versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $87.0 vs $95.0 – making Mianwali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mianwali vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mianwali or Rawalpindi?
Mianwali costs about 4% more than Rawalpindi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mianwali and in Rawalpindi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $685 per month in Mianwali and $656 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mianwali or Rawalpindi?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Mianwali or in Rawalpindi?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Mianwali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Mianwali and in Rawalpindi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Mianwali and $14.00 in Rawalpindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Mianwali or in Rawalpindi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $456 in Mianwali and $437 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Mianwali or to Rawalpindi?
If budget matters most, go with Rawalpindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mianwali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.