For one person, living is cheaper in Muzaffarabad: $387 a month against $447 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent and utilities included – about $720 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Muzaffarabad and in Rahim Yar Khan
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Muzaffarabad and in Rahim Yar Khan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $387 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $447 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.
Muzaffarabad $387
Rahim Yar Khan $447
A couple spends around $560 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $645 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.
Muzaffarabad $560
Rahim Yar Khan $645
A family of three spends $733 per month in Muzaffarabad vs $842 in Rahim Yar Khan, rent included.
Muzaffarabad $733
Rahim Yar Khan $842
🙂
Muzaffarabad is about 13% cheaper than Rahim Yar Khan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both Muzaffarabad and Rahim Yar Khan are more affordable than the global median – Muzaffarabad71% lower, Rahim Yar Khan67% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.47PKR 408
$1.42PKR 393
3.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.27PKR 2,565
$10.76PKR 2,977
-13.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.16PKR 597
$4.45PKR 1,231
-51.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.47PKR 406
$2.69PKR 744
-45.35%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92PKR 807
$5.16PKR 1,429
-43.41%
Cappuccino
$1.09PKR 302
$0.80PKR 222
36.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 105
$0.30PKR 84.0
26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 56.9
$0.15PKR 42.39
40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 263
$0.73PKR 203
30.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68PKR 188
$0.47PKR 130
44.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95PKR 262
$0.65PKR 180
46.15%
Eggs
$0.87PKR 241
$1.13PKR 311
-23.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.58PKR 990
$3.23PKR 895
10.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.51PKR 694
$2.50PKR 692
0.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.29PKR 910
$4.40PKR 1,218
-25.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.10PKR 305
$0.47PKR 131
134.04%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55PKR 153
$0.34PKR 95.0
61.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.35PKR 96.8
$0.52PKR 143
-32.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37PKR 104
$0.35PKR 95.9
5.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 95.4
$0.37PKR 103
-8.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.28PKR 76.9
$0.26PKR 71.9
7.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41PKR 114
$0.18PKR 49.02
127.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 68.5
$0.27PKR 73.8
-7.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.41PKR 390
$1.82PKR 504
-22.53%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68PKR 190
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75PKR 209
$2.86PKR 792
-73.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.93PKR 257
$2.20PKR 609
-57.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21PKR 56.9
$0.10PKR 28.35
110.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.08PKR 2,512
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05PKR 290
$0.70PKR 194
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74PKR 204
$0.38PKR 104
94.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.46PKR 405
$2.24PKR 621
-34.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98PKR 272
$1.20PKR 333
-18.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KPKR 6.2M
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
-10.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KPKR 7.3M
$23.8KPKR 6.6M
10.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118PKR 32.8K
$147PKR 40.7K
-19.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.36PKR 1,483
$4.95PKR 1,369
8.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.87PKR 2,456
$14.51PKR 4,015
-38.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.56PKR 4,029
$7.28PKR 2,014
100.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.25PKR 2,006
$17.80PKR 4,927
-59.27%
Cinema Ticket
$2.03PKR 562
$4.25PKR 1,177
-52.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$46.57PKR 12.9K
$18.91PKR 5,233
146.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$987PKR 273.3K
$1,022PKR 282.8K
-3.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.36PKR 1,484
$10.84PKR 3,001
-50.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.87PKR 2,455
$18.15PKR 5,022
-51.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.3PKR 13.9K
$92.2PKR 25.5K
-45.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$10.75PKR 2,976
$25.55PKR 7,071
-57.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$129PKR 35.6K
$128PKR 35.3K
0.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$78.6PKR 21.7K
$91.2PKR 25.3K
-13.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$251PKR 69.5K
$275PKR 76.1K
-8.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152PKR 42.0K
$178PKR 49.3K
-14.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$935PKR 258.9K
$547PKR 151.4K
71.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$474PKR 131.3K
$460PKR 127.2K
3.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$292PKR 80.9K
$88.5PKR 24.5K
230.37%
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: October 10, 2026
Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: October 13, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muzaffarabad
$133 34.3%
Rahim Yar Khan
$166 37.2% ↑ 25.4%$34
🏠Accommodation & Living
Muzaffarabad
$79 20.3%
Rahim Yar Khan
$91 20.4% ↑ 16.2%$13
🛒Groceries & Markets
Muzaffarabad
$75 19.4%
Rahim Yar Khan
$68 15.3% ↓ 8.9%$6.7
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Muzaffarabad
$34 8.8%
Rahim Yar Khan
$66 14.8% ↑ 95%$32
🍽Eating Out
Muzaffarabad
$34 8.7%
Rahim Yar Khan
$36 8.1% ↑ 7.2%$2.4
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Muzaffarabad
$19 4.8%
Rahim Yar Khan
$16 3.5% ↓ 15.3%$2.8
🚌Getting Around
Muzaffarabad
$15 3.8%
Rahim Yar Khan
$3 * 0.7% ↓ 79.5%$12
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muzaffarabad
$138 18.8%
Rahim Yar Khan
$171 20.3% ↑ 24.1%$33
🏠Accommodation & Living
Muzaffarabad
$152 20.7%
Rahim Yar Khan
$178 21.2% ↑ 17.6%$27
🛒Groceries & Markets
Muzaffarabad
$181 24.7%
Rahim Yar Khan
$167 19.8% ↓ 7.8%$14
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Muzaffarabad
$75 10.3%
Rahim Yar Khan
$147 17.4% ↑ 95%$71
🍽Eating Out
Muzaffarabad
$113 15.5%
Rahim Yar Khan
$124 14.7% ↑ 9%$10
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Muzaffarabad
$44 6.1%
Rahim Yar Khan
$49 5.9% ↑ 11%$4.9
🚌Getting Around
Muzaffarabad
$30 4.1%
Rahim Yar Khan
$6.2 * 0.7% ↓ 79.1%$23
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $129 in Muzaffarabad versus $128 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 230% 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 $9.00 in Muzaffarabad versus $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan. Groceries tell a different story – $75.0 in Muzaffarabad vs $68.0 in Rahim Yar Khan – so Rahim Yar Khan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Muzaffarabad→Rahim Yar Khan730 km≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 15%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $581 per month in Muzaffarabad and $670 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 $387 in Muzaffarabad and $447 in Rahim Yar Khan. That's a gap of about 15%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $46.57 per month in Muzaffarabad and $18.91 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 $387 in Muzaffarabad and $447 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