Cost of Living Comparison Between Multan and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Multan and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $521 in Multan versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $733 in Multan versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $945 in Multan versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Multan is roughly 3% more expensive than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Multan 62% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 717

$2.12 PKR 588

22.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PKR 3,024

$15.93 PKR 4,415

-31.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,540

$5.89 PKR 1,633

-5.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 PKR 733

$1.81 PKR 502

45.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,483

$3.52 PKR 976

51.99%

Cappuccino

$1.87 PKR 519

$1.94 PKR 537

-3.61%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.9

$0.44 PKR 122

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 50.9

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-28.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.90 PKR 250

-21.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.55 PKR 152

-5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.23 PKR 342

-13.01%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 318

$1.11 PKR 307

3.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 PKR 2,006

$6.16 PKR 1,708

17.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.37 PKR 657

$3.57 PKR 988

-33.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 PKR 1,184

$5.22 PKR 1,446

-18.20%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.14 PKR 316

-20.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.86 PKR 237

-44.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 PKR 196

$1.23 PKR 340

-42.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 148

$0.57 PKR 158

-5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.36 PKR 99.3

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.46 PKR 127

-6.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.33 PKR 92.1

51.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.40 PKR 111

-5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.83 PKR 507

$16.28 PKR 4,514

-88.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 PKR 804

$2.46 PKR 681

17.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.93 PKR 534

13.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.6

$0.16 PKR 43.61

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.06 PKR 1,957

$10.12 PKR 2,806

-30.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PKR 394

$0.91 PKR 253

56.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.38 PKR 104

-2.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 257

$3.16 PKR 876

-70.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 PKR 301

$1.13 PKR 312

-3.54%

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

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

37.49%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

5.04%

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

$144 PKR 39.9K

$115 PKR 31.9K

25.27%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,358

$5.49 PKR 1,522

-10.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.48 PKR 5,400

$18.67 PKR 5,174

4.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.31 PKR 6,738

$12.12 PKR 3,360

100.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.55 PKR 983

$6.75 PKR 1,871

-47.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.46 PKR 1,236

$4.28 PKR 1,187

4.21%

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

$41.85 PKR 11.6K

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

-13.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,010 PKR 279.8K

$844 PKR 233.9K

19.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.34 PKR 5,082

$20.85 PKR 5,779

-12.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.99 PKR 5,264

$28.03 PKR 7,769

-32.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 PKR 25.4K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.07 PKR 7,226

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

-28.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 PKR 39.7K

$204 PKR 56.6K

-29.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.6 PKR 26.0K

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

14.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 PKR 59.4K

$438 PKR 121.5K

-51.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 PKR 40.7K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-34.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 322.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 PKR 51.6K

$175 PKR 48.4K

6.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

-43.01%

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

Last update for Multan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $143 in Multan and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Multan pays 7% 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: $11.00 in Multan vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $89.0 vs $103 per month, with Multan 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

Multan vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 7% higher in Multan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $143 in Multan versus $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $41.85 in Multan versus $48.47 in Rawalpindi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Multan pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.