Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirpur and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirpur and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $365 in Mirpur versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $554 in Mirpur versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $743 in Mirpur versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Mirpur costs roughly 28% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mirpur 73% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 492

$2.12 PKR 588

-16.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.42 PKR 2,058

$15.93 PKR 4,416

-53.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,506

$5.89 PKR 1,633

-7.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.81 PKR 502

-38.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 PKR 494

$3.52 PKR 976

-49.43%

Cappuccino

$1.10 PKR 304

$1.94 PKR 538

-43.30%

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

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.44 PKR 122

6.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.3

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.90 PKR 250

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.55 PKR 152

7.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.23 PKR 342

-1.63%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.11 PKR 307

7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.52 PKR 976

$6.16 PKR 1,708

-42.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 736

$3.57 PKR 988

-25.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,094

$5.22 PKR 1,446

-24.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 301

$1.14 PKR 316

-5.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.86 PKR 237

-27.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$1.23 PKR 340

-56.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.3

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.46 PKR 127

-34.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.33 PKR 92.1

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.40 PKR 111

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.79 PKR 496

$16.28 PKR 4,515

-89.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.20 PKR 332

-12.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 PKR 785

$2.46 PKR 681

15.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 PKR 560

$1.93 PKR 535

4.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 45.81

$0.16 PKR 43.62

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.78 PKR 2,713

$10.12 PKR 2,807

-3.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$0.91 PKR 253

20.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.38 PKR 104

-44.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 822

$3.16 PKR 876

-6.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.13 PKR 312

-13.27%

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

$8,886 PKR 2.5M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

-51.25%

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

$14.5K PKR 4.0M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-42.05%

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

$68.2 PKR 18.9K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-40.69%

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

$5.72 PKR 1,585

$5.49 PKR 1,522

4.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.71 PKR 4,078

$18.67 PKR 5,175

-21.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.03 PKR 4,167

$12.12 PKR 3,361

24.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$6.75 PKR 1,872

-46.07%

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 PKR 983

$4.28 PKR 1,187

-17.06%

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

$26.62 PKR 7,382

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

-45.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,058 PKR 570.6K

$844 PKR 234.0K

143.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.76 PKR 4,925

$20.85 PKR 5,780

-14.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.12 PKR 5,025

$28.03 PKR 7,771

-35.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.39 PKR 10.1K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

-60.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.79 PKR 7,981

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

-20.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$204 PKR 56.7K

-38.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 PKR 21.8K

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

-4.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 PKR 70.8K

$438 PKR 121.5K

-41.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.9K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-32.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$863 PKR 239.3K

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

-25.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 PKR 138.4K

$512 PKR 142.1K

-2.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$145 PKR 40.2K

$175 PKR 48.4K

-16.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

22.81

-48.14%

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

Last update for Mirpur: August 30, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Mirpur and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 20% 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: $7.00 in Mirpur vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $81.0 vs $103 per month, with Mirpur 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

Mirpur vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mirpur and Rawalpindi differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($365 vs $504 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 20% 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: $127 in Mirpur versus $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $365 per month in Mirpur versus $504 in Rawalpindi – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur runs roughly 3% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mirpur 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 Mirpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.