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: $313 in Mirpur versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $473 in Mirpur versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $633 in Mirpur versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Mirpur costs roughly 27% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mirpur 77% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.78 PKR 496

-2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.48 PKR 2,082

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-47.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 PKR 1,013

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-31.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 PKR 384

$1.54 PKR 429

-10.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 PKR 486

$3.40 PKR 947

-48.53%

Cappuccino

$1.53 PKR 424

$1.73 PKR 481

-11.56%

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

$0.29 PKR 81.7

$0.32 PKR 88.9

-9.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 43.84

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.79 PKR 219

-11.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.23 PKR 343

5.69%

Eggs

$0.83 PKR 232

$1.12 PKR 311

-25.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 993

$6.09 PKR 1,693

-41.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 717

$3.39 PKR 944

-23.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 910

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-28.45%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.02 PKR 283

-2.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.67 PKR 186

-11.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.92 PKR 257

-32.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.47 PKR 132

10.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 PKR 74.2

$0.33 PKR 93.2

-18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.7

$0.52 PKR 144

-44.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.9

$0.26 PKR 72.7

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 93.1

$0.37 PKR 102

-10.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 265

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-94.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 237

$1.04 PKR 288

-18.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$2.41 PKR 669

-14.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 PKR 509

$1.90 PKR 528

-3.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.70

$0.18 PKR 49.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.10 PKR 1,974

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-28.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.91 PKR 253

13.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.35 PKR 97.5

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.97 PKR 826

-40.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.96 PKR 267

-4.17%

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

$8,947 PKR 2.5M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-50.26%

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

$14.1K PKR 3.9M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-38.07%

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

$57.4 PKR 16.0K

$100 PKR 28.0K

-42.85%

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

$1.79 PKR 498

$3.99 PKR 1,111

-55.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.68 PKR 3,527

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-23.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.87 PKR 1,912

$10.14 PKR 2,821

-32.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.59 PKR 1,000

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-53.19%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,008

$3.60 PKR 1,003

0.56%

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

$28.71 PKR 7,987

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-27.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,109 PKR 308.6K

$962 PKR 267.6K

15.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.34 PKR 4,545

$11.80 PKR 3,282

38.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.71 PKR 4,927

$18.84 PKR 5,242

-6.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.90 PKR 9,988

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-59.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.09 PKR 7,259

$28.38 PKR 7,896

-8.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.0 PKR 19.7K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-45.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-21.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-67.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.9 PKR 27.8K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-42.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,131 PKR 314.6K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-3.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$556 PKR 154.7K

$516 PKR 143.6K

7.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$141 PKR 39.3K

$171 PKR 47.6K

-17.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-10.76%

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

Last update for Mirpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.0 in Mirpur and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 21% 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 $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $74.0 vs $95.0 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 37% in total monthly costs ($313 vs $429 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Rawalpindi earns 21% less. 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: $71.0 in Mirpur versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $313 per month in Mirpur versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur 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 $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 37% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.