😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $430 in Nawabshah versus $429 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $631 in Nawabshah versus $679 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $832 in Nawabshah versus $929 in Rawalpindi.
😐Monthly costs are close between Nawabshah and Rawalpindi; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nawabshah68% lower, Rawalpindi68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14PKR 594
$1.78PKR 496
20.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.49PKR 3,476
$14.22PKR 3,958
-12.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99PKR 1,111
$5.29PKR 1,471
-24.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00PKR 556
$1.54PKR 429
29.87%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.20PKR 1,447
$3.40PKR 947
52.94%
Cappuccino
$1.84PKR 512
$1.73PKR 481
6.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 100
$0.32PKR 88.9
12.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.4
$0.23PKR 64.2
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73PKR 202
$0.79PKR 219
-7.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.31PKR 85.1
$0.57PKR 158
-45.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 324
$1.23PKR 343
-4.88%
Eggs
$1.02PKR 283
$1.12PKR 311
-8.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.52PKR 1,814
$6.09PKR 1,694
7.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.19PKR 608
$3.39PKR 944
-35.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.69PKR 1,026
$4.57PKR 1,271
-19.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.08PKR 301
$1.02PKR 283
5.88%
Banana(1kg)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.67PKR 186
-35.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.92PKR 257
-25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.28PKR 78.8
$0.47PKR 132
-40.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.28PKR 78.5
$0.33PKR 93.2
-15.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 143
$0.52PKR 145
-1.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38PKR 107
$0.26PKR 72.8
46.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 112
$0.37PKR 102
8.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.23PKR 343
$16.44PKR 4,575
-92.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32PKR 366
$1.04PKR 289
26.92%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13PKR 594
$2.41PKR 670
-11.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.66PKR 461
$1.90PKR 528
-12.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.7
$0.18PKR 49.38
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.28PKR 2,025
$9.89PKR 2,752
-26.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74PKR 206
$0.91PKR 253
-18.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67PKR 187
$0.35PKR 97.6
91.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82PKR 506
$2.97PKR 826
-38.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93PKR 259
$0.96PKR 267
-3.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4KPKR 4.6M
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
-9.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KPKR 7.0M
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
9.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132PKR 36.8K
$100PKR 28.0K
31.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.89PKR 1,360
$3.99PKR 1,111
22.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.65PKR 3,797
$16.64PKR 4,631
-17.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.35PKR 3,438
$10.14PKR 2,822
21.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.78PKR 1,609
$7.67PKR 2,135
-24.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.16PKR 1,158
$3.60PKR 1,003
15.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.0PKR 15.9K
$39.75PKR 11.1K
43.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,377PKR 383.1K
$962PKR 267.7K
43.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.82PKR 4,958
$11.80PKR 3,283
51.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.09PKR 6,982
$18.84PKR 5,244
33.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.7PKR 18.3K
$87.8PKR 24.4K
-25.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.56PKR 9,895
$28.38PKR 7,899
25.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$73.9PKR 20.6K
$130PKR 36.1K
-43.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.1PKR 14.5K
$66.4PKR 18.5K
-21.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164PKR 45.7K
$324PKR 90.2K
-49.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106PKR 29.6K
$173PKR 48.1K
-38.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,008PKR 280.4K
$1,173PKR 326.5K
-14.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$530PKR 147.3K
$516PKR 143.6K
2.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$128PKR 35.6K
$171PKR 47.6K
-25.15%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Nawabshah and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rawalpindi pays 34% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Nawabshah vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $81.0 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
Are salaries higher in Nawabshah or Rawalpindi?
On paper, Rawalpindi earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nawabshah vs Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $73.9 in Nawabshah versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Nawabshah vs Rawalpindi?
A monthly transit pass in Rawalpindi runs roughly 36% less than in Nawabshah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Are groceries more expensive in Nawabshah or Rawalpindi?
Shoppers in Nawabshah pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Nawabshah or Rawalpindi?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Nawabshah or Rawalpindi?
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.
Should I move to Nawabshah or Rawalpindi?
It comes down to priorities – Rawalpindi wins on affordability, Nawabshah on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.