Cost of Living Comparison Between Nawabshah and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Nawabshah and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $438 in Nawabshah versus $425 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $635 in Nawabshah versus $670 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $831 in Nawabshah versus $914 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Nawabshah is roughly 3% more expensive than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nawabshah 67% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 PKR 579

$1.73 PKR 481

20.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.43 PKR 3,450

$14.24 PKR 3,953

-12.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 PKR 1,129

$5.16 PKR 1,433

-21.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.55 PKR 431

23.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 PKR 1,437

$3.40 PKR 943

52.35%

Cappuccino

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.71 PKR 476

6.43%

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

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.34 PKR 95.2

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.86 PKR 239

-18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.52 PKR 144

-36.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.29 PKR 359

-9.30%

Eggs

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.16 PKR 323

-14.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,759

$6.23 PKR 1,731

1.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.19 PKR 607

$3.32 PKR 921

-34.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$4.52 PKR 1,254

-19.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 302

$0.94 PKR 261

15.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.64 PKR 177

-28.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 PKR 207

$0.92 PKR 254

-18.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 78.5

$0.50 PKR 139

-44.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 78.3

$0.36 PKR 101

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.48 PKR 133

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.26 PKR 72.6

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.37 PKR 102

8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 359

$16.39 PKR 4,552

-92.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.02 PKR 284

25.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.28 PKR 633

-5.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.66 PKR 461

$1.98 PKR 550

-16.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.80

$0.21 PKR 57.1

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.11 PKR 1,974

$9.78 PKR 2,716

-27.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.87 PKR 241

-17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.32 PKR 90.1

103.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.97 PKR 826

-41.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 243

$0.97 PKR 269

-10.31%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

-5.02%

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

$24.7K PKR 6.9M

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

7.99%

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

$133 PKR 36.9K

$103 PKR 28.5K

29.31%

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

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$4.03 PKR 1,118

24.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.54 PKR 3,760

$16.21 PKR 4,500

-16.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.16 PKR 3,377

$10.17 PKR 2,824

19.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 PKR 1,636

$7.48 PKR 2,076

-21.26%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,202

$3.59 PKR 997

20.61%

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

$57.0 PKR 15.8K

$40.91 PKR 11.4K

39.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,354 PKR 375.8K

$955 PKR 265.1K

41.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.68 PKR 4,909

$11.81 PKR 3,279

49.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.48 PKR 7,074

$18.85 PKR 5,232

35.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 PKR 17.7K

$88.5 PKR 24.6K

-27.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.63 PKR 9,891

$28.57 PKR 7,933

24.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$130 PKR 36.0K

-42.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

$65.8 PKR 18.3K

-19.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 46.8K

$325 PKR 90.2K

-48.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$172 PKR 47.8K

-37.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$852 PKR 236.4K

$1,167 PKR 324.0K

-27.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.6K

$520 PKR 144.3K

-1.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$172 PKR 47.7K

-25.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

20.17

-11.75%

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

Last update for Nawabshah: July 19, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.1 in Nawabshah and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Nawabshah vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $80.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Nawabshah cheaper across the board.

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

Nawabshah vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Nawabshah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rawalpindi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Rawalpindi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.1 in Nawabshah versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Nawabshah pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Rawalpindi – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $12.00 in Nawabshah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Nawabshah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.