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: $353 in Nowshera versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $579 in Nowshera versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $805 in Nowshera versus $905 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Nowshera costs roughly 19% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nowshera 74% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$1.82 PKR 505

58.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.31 PKR 3,974

$13.95 PKR 3,873

2.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,486

$5.40 PKR 1,499

-0.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 498

$1.56 PKR 433

14.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PKR 1,090

$3.53 PKR 980

11.05%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 569

$1.71 PKR 474

19.88%

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

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.31 PKR 87.1

38.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.23 PKR 63.9

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.86 PKR 239

-8.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.53 PKR 146

16.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.30 PKR 361

-6.92%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.12 PKR 312

0.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,760

$6.03 PKR 1,674

5.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 PKR 768

$3.43 PKR 953

-19.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.91 PKR 1,086

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-11.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$1.01 PKR 280

-41.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.69 PKR 191

-42.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 246

$0.85 PKR 236

4.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.47 PKR 129

27.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.34 PKR 94.1

20.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.52 PKR 145

-36.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.8

$0.24 PKR 66.0

29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.39 PKR 109

-5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.48 PKR 412

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-90.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.99 PKR 274

-14.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 PKR 381

$2.40 PKR 666

-42.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 600

$1.91 PKR 531

13.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.59

$0.20 PKR 56.1

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.23 PKR 2,008

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-24.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.86 PKR 240

6.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.32 PKR 89.7

34.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 PKR 768

$2.92 PKR 811

-5.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.97 PKR 270

1.03%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

18.62%

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

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

13.14%

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

$28.81 PKR 7,999

$104 PKR 28.8K

-72.22%

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

$2.11 PKR 585

$4.04 PKR 1,121

-47.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.46 PKR 3,183

$16.63 PKR 4,618

-31.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.55 PKR 3,486

$9.97 PKR 2,768

25.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 PKR 1,642

$7.43 PKR 2,062

-20.32%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,168

$3.47 PKR 964

21.33%

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

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

47.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,108 PKR 307.8K

$948 PKR 263.3K

16.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.24 PKR 5,898

$11.90 PKR 3,304

78.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.23 PKR 7,839

$18.45 PKR 5,124

53.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 PKR 24.3K

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-2.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.80 PKR 11.3K

$29.00 PKR 8,052

40.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-42.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.1 PKR 14.2K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

-21.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.0K

$330 PKR 91.6K

-49.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$171 PKR 47.4K

-39.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$871 PKR 241.8K

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

-25.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 PKR 147.6K

$518 PKR 143.8K

2.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.9 in Nowshera and $133 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 24% in total monthly costs ($353 vs $437 including rent). Nowshera is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $529 in Nowshera and $656 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: $75.9 in Nowshera versus $133 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 $353 per month in Nowshera versus $437 in Rawalpindi – a 24% 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 24% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.