Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowshera and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowshera and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $360 in Nowshera versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $591 in Nowshera versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $823 in Nowshera versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Nowshera costs roughly 16% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nowshera 73% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.77 PKR 771

$1.78 PKR 496

55.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.03 PKR 3,903

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 PKR 1,460

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-0.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.54 PKR 429

16.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PKR 1,091

$3.40 PKR 947

15.29%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.73 PKR 481

15.61%

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

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.32 PKR 88.9

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.79 PKR 219

-6.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.57 PKR 158

14.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.23 PKR 343

4.07%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 310

$1.12 PKR 311

-0.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,713

$6.09 PKR 1,693

1.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.82 PKR 783

$3.39 PKR 944

-16.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.96 PKR 1,102

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-13.35%

Apples (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$1.02 PKR 283

-43.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.67 PKR 186

-34.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.92 PKR 257

-6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.47 PKR 132

19.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.33 PKR 93.2

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.52 PKR 144

-28.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.0

$0.26 PKR 72.7

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.37 PKR 102

-10.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.37 PKR 382

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-91.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.04 PKR 288

-10.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 PKR 400

$2.41 PKR 669

-40.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 585

$1.90 PKR 528

10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.74

$0.18 PKR 49.36

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.96 PKR 1,936

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-29.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.35 PKR 97.5

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 PKR 803

$2.97 PKR 826

-2.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.96 PKR 267

1.04%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

19.69%

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

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

13.21%

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

$28.68 PKR 7,980

$100 PKR 28.0K

-71.46%

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

$2.11 PKR 586

$3.99 PKR 1,111

-47.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.89 PKR 3,307

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-28.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,476

$10.14 PKR 2,821

23.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.10 PKR 1,698

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-20.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.60 PKR 1,003

16.94%

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

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

50.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,089 PKR 303.0K

$962 PKR 267.6K

13.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.77 PKR 6,056

$11.80 PKR 3,282

84.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.50 PKR 7,928

$18.84 PKR 5,242

51.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

1.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.01 PKR 11.1K

$28.38 PKR 7,896

40.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-41.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.2 PKR 14.3K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-22.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.6K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-48.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.3K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-39.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,017 PKR 283.0K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-13.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$504 PKR 140.2K

$516 PKR 143.6K

-2.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

20.17

0.15%

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

Last update for Nowshera: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.5 in Nowshera and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Nowshera vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Nowshera 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

Nowshera vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nowshera and Rawalpindi differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($360 vs $429 including rent). Nowshera is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $540 in Nowshera and $644 in Rawalpindi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.5 in Nowshera versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $360 per month in Nowshera versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Nowshera 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 Nowshera gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.