Cost of Living Comparison Between Muzaffarabad and Rahim Yar Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Muzaffarabad and Rahim Yar Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $406 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $437 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A couple spends around $621 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $649 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A family of three spends $836 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $860 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

Muzaffarabad is about 7% cheaper than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Muzaffarabad and Rahim Yar Khan are more affordable than the global median – Muzaffarabad 70% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.41 PKR 392
$1.45 PKR 403
-2.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.39 PKR 4,547
$10.86 PKR 3,012
50.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.18 PKR 604
$4.44 PKR 1,232
-50.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 PKR 411
$2.75 PKR 764
-46.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 PKR 947
$5.11 PKR 1,417
-33.07%
Cappuccino
$1.05 PKR 291
$0.82 PKR 227
28.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 PKR 121
$0.30 PKR 84.5
46.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 PKR 69.6
$0.20 PKR 55.2
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 PKR 234
$0.73 PKR 203
15.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 PKR 163
$0.43 PKR 118
37.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 PKR 282
$0.71 PKR 197
43.66%
Eggs
$0.88 PKR 243
$1.09 PKR 302
-19.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.34 PKR 1,760
$3.31 PKR 917
91.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.55 PKR 708
$2.47 PKR 685
3.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.17 PKR 879
$4.28 PKR 1,188
-25.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.11 PKR 308
$0.47 PKR 130
136.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.81 PKR 226
$0.38 PKR 105
113.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.56 PKR 156
-33.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 95.9
$0.34 PKR 95.2
2.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 96.9
$0.35 PKR 96.7
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 83.6
$0.26 PKR 71.8
15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 91.7
$0.18 PKR 49.99
83.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 95.3
$0.27 PKR 74.6
25.93%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.78 PKR 495
$1.81 PKR 503
-1.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 PKR 321
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 PKR 657
$2.87 PKR 797
-17.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.93 PKR 258
$2.20 PKR 610
-57.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 52.3
$0.12 PKR 33.28
58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.56 PKR 2,653
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 PKR 258
$0.75 PKR 208
24.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.35 PKR 96.2
5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 PKR 439
$2.23 PKR 617
-29.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 PKR 277
$1.02 PKR 282
-1.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
$25.3K PKR 7.0M
-28.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K PKR 6.7M
$23.3K PKR 6.5M
4.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 PKR 31.9K
$143 PKR 39.7K
-19.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.55 PKR 1,541
$4.88 PKR 1,353
13.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.86 PKR 2,459
$14.19 PKR 3,938
-37.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.47 PKR 4,015
$9.75 PKR 2,706
48.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.77 PKR 4,929
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 PKR 1,182
$4.43 PKR 1,229
-3.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.51 PKR 13.7K
$19.08 PKR 5,294
159.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$839 PKR 232.6K
$1,018 PKR 282.4K
-17.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.52 PKR 1,532
$11.04 PKR 3,062
-50.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.14 PKR 2,535
$18.14 PKR 5,032
-49.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 PKR 25.0K
$92.1 PKR 25.6K
-1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$10.71 PKR 2,970
$25.70 PKR 7,130
-58.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$126 PKR 34.8K
$126 PKR 34.9K
-0.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.0 PKR 21.4K
$91.9 PKR 25.5K
-16.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$249 PKR 69.1K
$274 PKR 76.1K
-9.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 PKR 41.8K
$182 PKR 50.4K
-17.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$945 PKR 262.2K
$550 PKR 152.5K
71.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$527 PKR 146.2K
$443 PKR 123.0K
18.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$294 PKR 81.6K
$90.9 PKR 25.2K
223.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
12.5
20.00%

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

Last update for Muzaffarabad: September 1, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Muzaffarabad versus $126 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.

Salaries run about 224% higher in Muzaffarabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Muzaffarabad versus $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $68.0 – 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 8%, 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 $609 per month in Muzaffarabad and $656 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Muzaffarabad and in Rahim Yar Khan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $406 in Muzaffarabad and $437 in Rahim Yar Khan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $49.51 per month in Muzaffarabad and $19.08 in Rahim Yar Khan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 $406 in Muzaffarabad and $437 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.

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