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 $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 – Muzaffarabad 79% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.37 PKR 382
$1.76 PKR 489
-22.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.42 PKR 4,011
$8.74 PKR 2,430
64.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.15 PKR 598
$3.36 PKR 934
-36.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 PKR 382
$1.73 PKR 481
-20.81%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 PKR 977
$3.16 PKR 880
11.08%
Cappuccino
$1.03 PKR 286
$0.84 PKR 233
22.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 88.8
$0.24 PKR 67.2
33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.4
$0.16 PKR 44.39
31.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 PKR 221
$0.60 PKR 166
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 157
$0.60 PKR 167
-6.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 PKR 349
$1.08 PKR 300
15.74%
Eggs
$1.16 PKR 323
$1.08 PKR 299
7.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.95 PKR 1,654
$4.22 PKR 1,175
41.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.66 PKR 740
$2.20 PKR 611
20.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.94 PKR 817
$3.12 PKR 868
-5.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 279
$0.87 PKR 241
14.94%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 PKR 176
$0.72 PKR 199
-12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 151
$0.58 PKR 161
-6.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 131
$0.48 PKR 133
-2.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.37 PKR 103
-2.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.43 PKR 120
$0.40 PKR 111
7.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 PKR 72.6
$0.56 PKR 157
-53.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.29 PKR 79.8
24.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.38 PKR 384
$1.78 PKR 495
-22.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 PKR 285
$1.60 PKR 446
-36.25%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 PKR 645
$1.85 PKR 515
25.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.43 PKR 398
$2.00 PKR 557
-28.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 PKR 102
$0.20 PKR 54.6
85.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.00 PKR 1,947
$6.90 PKR 1,918
1.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 236
$1.07 PKR 299
-20.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 PKR 98.7
$0.41 PKR 113
-14.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 PKR 748
$1.37 PKR 382
96.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 PKR 265
$0.93 PKR 259
2.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
$22.7K PKR 6.3M
-23.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K PKR 6.3M
$21.8K PKR 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)
$53.9 PKR 15.0K
$104 PKR 29.1K
-48.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 PKR 1,114
$3.25 PKR 903
23.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.28 PKR 3,138
$13.99 PKR 3,892
-19.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$7.11 PKR 1,978
$14.07 PKR 3,914
-49.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.37 PKR 1,493
$5.98 PKR 1,663
-10.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47 PKR 965
$2.61 PKR 726
32.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$24.39 PKR 6,786
$17.53 PKR 4,878
39.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$934 PKR 259.9K
$886 PKR 246.4K
5.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.27 PKR 1,466
$12.17 PKR 3,386
-56.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.03 PKR 2,513
$21.01 PKR 5,844
-57.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 PKR 24.2K
$52.8 PKR 14.7K
64.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$10.45 PKR 2,907
$28.71 PKR 7,986
-63.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$59.0 PKR 16.4K
$81.1 PKR 22.6K
-27.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$27.15 PKR 7,553
$62.5 PKR 17.4K
-56.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$143 PKR 39.7K
$110 PKR 30.7K
29.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$110 PKR 30.7K
$94.8 PKR 26.4K
16.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,020 PKR 283.7K
$975 PKR 271.2K
4.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$441 PKR 122.6K
$510 PKR 141.8K
-13.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muzaffarabad
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$291 PKR 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.

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