Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirpur and Rawalpindi

For one person, living is cheaper in Mirpur: $372 a month against $498 in Rawalpindi, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Mirpur
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$372
/mo nomad
Rawalpindi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$498
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mirpur and in Rawalpindi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mirpur and in Rawalpindi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $372 in Mirpur versus $498 in Rawalpindi.

  • Mirpur $372
  • Rawalpindi $498

Estimated couple costs with rent: $558 in Mirpur versus $784 in Rawalpindi.

  • Mirpur $558
  • Rawalpindi $784

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $743 in Mirpur versus $1,070 in Rawalpindi.

  • Mirpur $743
  • Rawalpindi $1,070

Living in Mirpur costs roughly 25% less than in Rawalpindi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mirpur 72% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.83 PKR 505
$2.04 PKR 565
-10.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.17 PKR 1,985
$16.20 PKR 4,484
-55.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 PKR 1,494
$5.79 PKR 1,602
-6.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 PKR 290
$1.78 PKR 492
-41.01%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 PKR 493
$3.47 PKR 962
-48.70%
Cappuccino
$1.06 PKR 295
$1.94 PKR 537
-45.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 PKR 129
$0.44 PKR 121
6.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 PKR 49.33
$0.23 PKR 63.3
-21.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 PKR 217
$0.90 PKR 249
-13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 PKR 173
$0.59 PKR 162
5.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 PKR 334
$1.22 PKR 337
-0.82%
Eggs
$1.19 PKR 328
$1.14 PKR 316
4.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.70 PKR 1,025
$6.38 PKR 1,765
-42.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.61 PKR 721
$3.38 PKR 935
-22.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.96 PKR 1,096
$5.22 PKR 1,446
-24.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.10 PKR 306
$1.14 PKR 316
-3.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.62 PKR 172
$0.89 PKR 245
-30.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 155
$1.22 PKR 337
-54.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.56 PKR 156
-7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.28 PKR 76.7
$0.35 PKR 97.7
-20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 84.1
$0.46 PKR 127
-34.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.28 PKR 76.4
$0.33 PKR 91.5
-15.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 PKR 96.8
$0.42 PKR 117
-16.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.82 PKR 504
$16.44 PKR 4,551
-88.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 PKR 297
$1.21 PKR 335
-11.57%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 PKR 671
$2.45 PKR 677
-1.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.41 PKR 391
$1.98 PKR 548
-28.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKR 47.68
$0.17 PKR 46.63
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.78 PKR 2,708
$10.08 PKR 2,791
-2.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 PKR 302
$0.88 PKR 244
23.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 PKR 63.9
$0.35 PKR 95.8
-34.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 PKR 786
$3.09 PKR 856
-8.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 271
$1.23 PKR 341
-20.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,856 PKR 2.5M
$18.7K PKR 5.2M
-52.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.3K PKR 4.0M
$24.5K PKR 6.8M
-41.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.0 PKR 18.5K
$115 PKR 31.8K
-41.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.50 PKR 1,521
$5.74 PKR 1,590
-4.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.25 PKR 3,945
$18.80 PKR 5,204
-24.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.64 PKR 4,052
$12.17 PKR 3,369
20.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.01 PKR 2,216
$7.40 PKR 2,048
8.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.56 PKR 984
$4.38 PKR 1,211
-18.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$26.90 PKR 7,446
$49.65 PKR 13.7K
-45.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,040 PKR 564.6K
$1,044 PKR 288.9K
95.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.29 PKR 5,062
$17.65 PKR 4,886
3.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.11 PKR 5,013
$32.02 PKR 8,862
-43.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$36.45 PKR 10.1K
$93.4 PKR 25.9K
-60.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.04 PKR 8,036
$35.64 PKR 9,863
-18.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$127 PKR 35.2K
$204 PKR 56.5K
-37.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.6 PKR 21.8K
$81.6 PKR 22.6K
-3.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$251 PKR 69.5K
$418 PKR 115.6K
-39.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 PKR 41.9K
$222 PKR 61.5K
-31.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$898 PKR 248.6K
$1,197 PKR 331.2K
-24.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$462 PKR 127.8K
$451 PKR 124.8K
2.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mirpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$146 PKR 40.3K
$173 PKR 47.8K
-15.56%
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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mirpur
$87
Rawalpindi
$139 60.5% $53
Groceries & Markets
Mirpur
$81
Rawalpindi
$103 28% $23
Accommodation & Living
Mirpur
$79
Rawalpindi
$82 3.8% $3
Eating Out
Mirpur
$46
Rawalpindi
$60 29.2% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Mirpur
$46
Rawalpindi
$80 75.4% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Mirpur
$22
Rawalpindi
$21 3.8% $0.8
Getting Around
Mirpur
$13
Rawalpindi
$13 5.1% $0.6

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 18% 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.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Mirpur
🇵🇰 Rawalpindi
🕒 Local time
10:30 10:30 AM
10:30 10:30 AM
Same time as Mirpur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
124,350
2,098,231
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mirpur Rawalpindi 81 km
From you
  • Mirpur
  • Rawalpindi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What is the total cost difference between living in Mirpur and in Rawalpindi?
Mirpur and Rawalpindi differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($372 vs $498 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 18% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mirpur and in Rawalpindi?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mirpur or Rawalpindi?
All in, you'll spend $372 per month in Mirpur versus $498 in Rawalpindi – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Mirpur and in Rawalpindi?
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.
How far does $1,200 go in Mirpur compared to Rawalpindi?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Mirpur and Rawalpindi?
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.
Where should expats move: Mirpur or Rawalpindi?
Expats usually find Mirpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mirpur vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?