🙂A single person spends $287 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $380 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $489 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $531 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $690 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $683 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.
🙂Muzaffarabad is about 24% cheaper than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Muzaffarabad and Rahim Yar Khan are more affordable than the global median – Muzaffarabad79% lower, Rahim Yar Khan72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.37PKR 382
$1.76PKR 489
-22.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.42PKR 4,011
$8.74PKR 2,430
64.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.15PKR 598
$3.36PKR 934
-36.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37PKR 382
$1.73PKR 481
-20.81%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51PKR 977
$3.16PKR 880
11.08%
Cappuccino
$1.03PKR 286
$0.84PKR 233
22.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 88.8
$0.24PKR 67.2
33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.4
$0.16PKR 44.39
31.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80PKR 221
$0.60PKR 166
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 157
$0.60PKR 167
-6.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25PKR 349
$1.08PKR 300
15.74%
Eggs
$1.16PKR 323
$1.08PKR 299
7.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.95PKR 1,654
$4.22PKR 1,175
41.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.66PKR 740
$2.20PKR 611
20.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.94PKR 817
$3.12PKR 868
-5.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.00PKR 279
$0.87PKR 241
14.94%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63PKR 176
$0.72PKR 199
-12.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.58PKR 161
-6.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 131
$0.48PKR 133
-2.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.37PKR 103
-2.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.40PKR 111
7.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26PKR 72.6
$0.56PKR 157
-53.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.29PKR 79.8
24.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.38PKR 384
$1.78PKR 495
-22.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02PKR 285
$1.60PKR 446
-36.25%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32PKR 645
$1.85PKR 515
25.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.43PKR 398
$2.00PKR 557
-28.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.20PKR 54.6
85.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.00PKR 1,947
$6.90PKR 1,918
1.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85PKR 236
$1.07PKR 299
-20.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 98.7
$0.41PKR 113
-14.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.69PKR 748
$1.37PKR 382
96.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 265
$0.93PKR 259
2.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
$22.7KPKR 6.3M
-23.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KPKR 6.3M
$21.8KPKR 6.1M
4.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.9PKR 15.0K
$104PKR 29.1K
-48.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00PKR 1,114
$3.25PKR 903
23.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.28PKR 3,138
$13.99PKR 3,892
-19.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.11PKR 1,978
$14.07PKR 3,914
-49.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.37PKR 1,493
$5.98PKR 1,663
-10.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47PKR 965
$2.61PKR 726
32.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$24.39PKR 6,786
$17.53PKR 4,878
39.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$934PKR 259.9K
$886PKR 246.4K
5.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.27PKR 1,466
$12.17PKR 3,386
-56.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.03PKR 2,513
$21.01PKR 5,844
-57.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0PKR 24.2K
$52.8PKR 14.7K
64.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$10.45PKR 2,907
$28.71PKR 7,986
-63.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$59.0PKR 16.4K
$81.1PKR 22.6K
-27.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$27.15PKR 7,553
$62.5PKR 17.4K
-56.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$143PKR 39.7K
$110PKR 30.7K
29.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$110PKR 30.7K
$94.8PKR 26.4K
16.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,020PKR 283.7K
$975PKR 271.2K
4.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$441PKR 122.6K
$510PKR 141.8K
-13.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$291PKR 80.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19
17.43
9.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Muzaffarabad: May 31, 2026
Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $59.0 in Muzaffarabad versus $81.1 in Rahim Yar Khan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Muzaffarabad versus $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $75.0 – making Rahim Yar Khan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Muzaffarabad vs Rahim Yar Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rahim Yar Khan cheaper than Muzaffarabad?
Yes – Rahim Yar Khan is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $431 per month in Muzaffarabad and $569 in Rahim Yar Khan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Muzaffarabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Muzaffarabad and Rahim Yar Khan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Rahim Yar Khan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Muzaffarabad or Rahim Yar Khan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Muzaffarabad and $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Muzaffarabad or Rahim Yar Khan?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $287 in Muzaffarabad and $380 in Rahim Yar Khan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Muzaffarabad or Rahim Yar Khan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Muzaffarabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Muzaffarabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rahim Yar Khan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Muzaffarabad vs other spots: cost of living compared