😐A single person spends $449 per month in Mianwali vs $429 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $657 per month in Mianwali vs $679 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $865 per month in Mianwali vs $929 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
😐Mianwali costs about 5% more than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mianwali and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Mianwali66% lower, Rawalpindi68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 583
$1.78PKR 496
17.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.90PKR 3,868
$14.22PKR 3,957
-2.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.25PKR 1,182
$5.29PKR 1,470
-19.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81PKR 782
$1.54PKR 429
82.47%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73PKR 1,037
$3.40PKR 947
9.71%
Cappuccino
$2.29PKR 638
$1.73PKR 481
32.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 57.1
$0.32PKR 88.9
-34.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.4
$0.23PKR 64.2
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64PKR 178
$0.79PKR 219
-18.99%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 171
$0.57PKR 158
8.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90PKR 249
$1.23PKR 343
-26.83%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 335
$1.12PKR 311
8.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,677
$6.09PKR 1,693
-0.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92PKR 812
$3.39PKR 944
-13.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.58PKR 1,274
$4.57PKR 1,271
0.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 281
$1.02PKR 283
-0.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63PKR 176
$0.67PKR 186
-5.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.92PKR 257
-38.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$0.47PKR 132
-53.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 98.8
$0.33PKR 93.2
9.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.52PKR 144
-30.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.26PKR 72.7
69.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 107
$0.37PKR 102
2.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.93PKR 259
$16.44PKR 4,573
-94.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.54PKR 151
$1.04PKR 288
-48.08%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07PKR 298
$2.41PKR 669
-55.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98PKR 552
$1.90PKR 528
4.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 55.1
$0.18PKR 49.36
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.16PKR 1,991
$9.89PKR 2,751
-27.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.91PKR 253
-24.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49PKR 137
$0.35PKR 97.5
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.72PKR 479
$2.97PKR 826
-42.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 249
$0.96PKR 267
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5KPKR 4.9M
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
-2.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KPKR 6.6M
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
4.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139PKR 38.6K
$100PKR 28.0K
38.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58PKR 995
$3.99PKR 1,111
-10.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.98PKR 4,724
$16.64PKR 4,630
2.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.33PKR 3,429
$10.14PKR 2,821
21.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05PKR 1,684
$7.67PKR 2,135
-21.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37PKR 1,215
$3.60PKR 1,003
21.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.38PKR 9,564
$39.75PKR 11.1K
-13.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,244PKR 346.0K
$962PKR 267.6K
29.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.32PKR 4,261
$11.80PKR 3,282
29.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.60PKR 6,286
$18.84PKR 5,242
19.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3PKR 20.1K
$87.8PKR 24.4K
-17.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.15PKR 8,388
$28.38PKR 7,896
6.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.2PKR 21.2K
$130PKR 36.1K
-41.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.3PKR 14.6K
$66.4PKR 18.5K
-21.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$169PKR 47.1K
$324PKR 90.1K
-47.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107PKR 29.9K
$173PKR 48.1K
-37.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$860PKR 239.2K
$1,173PKR 326.4K
-26.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$577PKR 160.5K
$516PKR 143.6K
11.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mianwali
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$171PKR 47.6K
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $76.2 in Mianwali 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Mianwali versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $88.0 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 5% 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 vs Rawalpindi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $674 per month in Mianwali and $644 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 Rawalpindi?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% 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 vs 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 Rawalpindi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $449 in Mianwali and $429 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 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.