🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $459 in Nawabshah versus $504 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $699 in Nawabshah versus $786 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $938 in Nawabshah versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.
🌍Living in Nawabshah costs roughly 9% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nawabshah67% lower, Rawalpindi63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11PKR 585
$2.12PKR 588
-0.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.36PKR 3,980
$15.93PKR 4,416
-9.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.37PKR 1,489
$5.89PKR 1,633
-8.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.10PKR 583
$1.81PKR 502
16.02%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19PKR 1,992
$3.52PKR 976
104.26%
Cappuccino
$2.17PKR 602
$1.94PKR 538
11.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.44PKR 122
-22.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.8
$0.25PKR 69.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89PKR 248
$0.90PKR 250
-1.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52PKR 143
$0.55PKR 152
-5.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20PKR 333
$1.23PKR 342
-2.44%
Eggs
$1.22PKR 337
$1.11PKR 307
9.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.17PKR 1,712
$6.16PKR 1,708
0.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99PKR 829
$3.57PKR 988
-16.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.09PKR 1,688
$5.22PKR 1,446
16.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19PKR 331
$1.14PKR 316
4.39%
Banana(1kg)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.86PKR 237
-37.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99PKR 273
$1.23PKR 340
-19.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 154
$0.57PKR 158
-1.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.32PKR 87.5
$0.36PKR 99.3
-11.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33PKR 92.2
$0.46PKR 127
-28.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.33PKR 92.1
18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41PKR 113
$0.40PKR 111
2.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.29PKR 357
$16.28PKR 4,515
-92.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31PKR 364
$1.20PKR 332
9.17%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44PKR 675
$2.46PKR 681
-0.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83PKR 507
$1.93PKR 535
-5.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 47.01
$0.16PKR 43.62
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.27PKR 2,846
$10.12PKR 2,807
1.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70PKR 194
$0.91PKR 253
-23.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76PKR 210
$0.38PKR 104
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.21PKR 613
$3.16PKR 876
-30.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29PKR 357
$1.13PKR 312
14.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
-2.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KPKR 7.4M
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
6.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.7K
$115PKR 31.9K
-9.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.62PKR 1,557
$5.49PKR 1,522
2.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.83PKR 3,558
$18.67PKR 5,175
-31.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.61PKR 3,774
$12.12PKR 3,361
12.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.75PKR 1,872
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.22PKR 1,169
$4.28PKR 1,187
-1.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.8PKR 14.1K
$48.47PKR 13.4K
4.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,386PKR 384.1K
$844PKR 234.0K
64.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.83PKR 4,111
$20.85PKR 5,780
-28.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.00PKR 6,100
$28.03PKR 7,771
-21.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6PKR 18.5K
$91.0PKR 25.2K
-26.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.29PKR 9,785
$36.28PKR 10.1K
-2.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$125PKR 34.7K
$204PKR 56.7K
-38.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.0PKR 21.3K
$82.0PKR 22.7K
-6.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256PKR 71.0K
$438PKR 121.5K
-41.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$148PKR 40.9K
$225PKR 62.5K
-34.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$799PKR 221.4K
$1,164PKR 322.8K
-31.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$534PKR 148.2K
$512PKR 142.1K
4.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nawabshah
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$128PKR 35.4K
$175PKR 48.4K
-26.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.88
22.81
-43.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nawabshah: August 31, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Nawabshah and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rawalpindi pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Nawabshah vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $103 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
Which city is more expensive, Nawabshah or Rawalpindi?
Nawabshah wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nawabshah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nawabshah or in Rawalpindi?
On paper, salaries run 37% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nawabshah compared to Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $125 in Nawabshah versus $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Nawabshah or in Rawalpindi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Nawabshah and in Rawalpindi?
Dining out is cheaper in Nawabshah – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Nawabshah or in Rawalpindi?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Nawabshah 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nawabshah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.