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 $286 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $368 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A couple spends around $492 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $532 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

A family of three spends $698 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $696 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.

Muzaffarabad is about 22% cheaper than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Muzaffarabad and Rahim Yar Khan are more affordable than the global median – Muzaffarabad 79% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.43 PKR 397

$1.75 PKR 486

-18.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.04 PKR 3,893

$8.91 PKR 2,471

57.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.11 PKR 584

$3.20 PKR 888

-34.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 PKR 385

$1.76 PKR 487

-21.02%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 969

$3.26 PKR 904

7.06%

Cappuccino

$1.07 PKR 297

$0.89 PKR 248

20.22%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.7

$0.24 PKR 66.7

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.16 PKR 45.04

31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.59 PKR 164

42.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.59 PKR 165

-11.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 349

$1.07 PKR 298

17.76%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.07 PKR 297

8.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PKR 1,692

$4.26 PKR 1,182

43.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 738

$2.16 PKR 599

23.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.92 PKR 810

$3.15 PKR 874

-7.30%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.86 PKR 237

8.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.72 PKR 201

-9.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 143

$0.58 PKR 160

-10.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.48 PKR 133

-4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.0

$0.40 PKR 111

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.39 PKR 109

12.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.4

$0.61 PKR 169

-60.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.29 PKR 79.3

24.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.40 PKR 390

$1.88 PKR 520

-25.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.57 PKR 434

-36.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 655

$1.94 PKR 538

21.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 PKR 382

$2.01 PKR 557

-31.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.15 PKR 42.66

146.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.14 PKR 1,980

$6.90 PKR 1,912

3.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$1.08 PKR 300

-22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 PKR 90.8

$0.44 PKR 122

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 PKR 717

$1.43 PKR 397

81.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$1.00 PKR 277

-5.00%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-20.14%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

2.53%

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

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

$105 PKR 29.0K

-48.78%

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

$4.02 PKR 1,116

$3.13 PKR 869

28.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.70 PKR 3,245

$13.57 PKR 3,762

-13.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.19 PKR 1,995

$14.31 PKR 3,967

-49.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.34 PKR 1,480

$5.96 PKR 1,654

-10.40%

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 PKR 1,008

$2.70 PKR 748

34.81%

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

$25.13 PKR 6,969

$17.70 PKR 4,908

41.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$934 PKR 258.9K

$880 PKR 244.0K

6.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$5.29 PKR 1,467

$12.56 PKR 3,484

-57.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.78 PKR 2,436

$21.30 PKR 5,907

-58.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.3K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

65.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$10.62 PKR 2,946

$28.66 PKR 7,949

-62.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$59.2 PKR 16.4K

$79.8 PKR 22.1K

-25.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$27.33 PKR 7,578

$61.0 PKR 16.9K

-55.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 PKR 39.7K

$113 PKR 31.4K

26.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.9K

$95.5 PKR 26.5K

16.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$821 PKR 227.8K

$529 PKR 146.7K

55.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.2K

$442 PKR 122.7K

16.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 PKR 80.5K

$90.9 PKR 25.2K

219.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.43

9.01%

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

Last update for Muzaffarabad: July 13, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $59.2 in Muzaffarabad versus $79.8 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 219% 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 $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

Yes – Rahim Yar Khan is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $428 per month in Muzaffarabad and $552 in Rahim Yar Khan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Rahim Yar Khan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $286 in Muzaffarabad and $368 in Rahim Yar Khan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.