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: $320 in Mirpur versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $475 in Mirpur versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $630 in Mirpur versus $905 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 76% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.82 PKR 505

-4.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.39 PKR 2,053

$13.95 PKR 3,873

-47.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.55 PKR 986

$5.40 PKR 1,499

-34.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 PKR 389

$1.56 PKR 433

-10.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 PKR 483

$3.53 PKR 980

-50.71%

Cappuccino

$1.47 PKR 408

$1.71 PKR 474

-14.04%

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

$0.27 PKR 74.3

$0.31 PKR 87.1

-12.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 51.9

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-17.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 212

$0.86 PKR 239

-11.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.53 PKR 146

-1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.30 PKR 361

-2.31%

Eggs

$0.88 PKR 245

$1.12 PKR 312

-21.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.59 PKR 996

$6.03 PKR 1,674

-40.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 718

$3.43 PKR 953

-24.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.28 PKR 911

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-25.45%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.01 PKR 280

-1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.69 PKR 191

-18.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.85 PKR 236

-22.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.47 PKR 129

8.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.5

$0.34 PKR 94.1

-14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 80.6

$0.52 PKR 145

-44.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.24 PKR 66.0

20.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.39 PKR 109

-5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 PKR 287

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-93.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.99 PKR 274

-7.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 549

$2.40 PKR 666

-17.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 PKR 522

$1.91 PKR 531

-1.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.68

$0.20 PKR 56.1

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.26 PKR 2,015

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-23.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.86 PKR 240

22.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.32 PKR 89.7

56.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.92 PKR 811

-38.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 276

$0.97 PKR 270

2.06%

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

$8,902 PKR 2.5M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

-49.55%

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

$13.9K PKR 3.9M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-39.03%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-44.38%

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

$1.74 PKR 484

$4.04 PKR 1,121

-56.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.77 PKR 3,546

$16.63 PKR 4,618

-23.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.26 PKR 2,017

$9.97 PKR 2,768

-27.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.59 PKR 998

$7.43 PKR 2,062

-51.68%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,004

$3.47 PKR 964

4.32%

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

$27.77 PKR 7,710

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

-30.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,121 PKR 311.3K

$948 PKR 263.3K

18.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.23 PKR 4,508

$11.90 PKR 3,304

36.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.42 PKR 4,837

$18.45 PKR 5,124

-5.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.44 PKR 9,842

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-60.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.09 PKR 7,245

$29.00 PKR 8,052

-10.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$70.4 PKR 19.6K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-46.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

-16.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.0K

$330 PKR 91.6K

-68.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 PKR 27.9K

$171 PKR 47.4K

-41.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$850 PKR 235.9K

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

-27.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$424 PKR 117.7K

$518 PKR 143.8K

-18.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$141 PKR 39.3K

$175 PKR 48.5K

-19.05%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $70.4 in Mirpur and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 24% 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 $75.0 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 ($320 vs $437 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 24% 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: $70.4 in Mirpur versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $320 per month in Mirpur versus $437 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 31% 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.