🙂A single person spends $440 per month in Pakpattan vs $504 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $624 per month in Pakpattan vs $786 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $809 per month in Pakpattan vs $1,069 in Rawalpindi, rent included.
🙂Pakpattan is about 13% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Pakpattan and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Pakpattan68% lower, Rawalpindi63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.23PKR 342
$2.12PKR 588
-41.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.64PKR 2,951
$15.93PKR 4,419
-33.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.49PKR 1,522
$5.89PKR 1,634
-6.79%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77PKR 769
$1.81PKR 502
53.04%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13PKR 1,423
$3.52PKR 977
45.74%
Cappuccino
$1.78PKR 493
$1.94PKR 538
-8.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17PKR 47.09
$0.44PKR 122
-61.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11PKR 30.37
$0.25PKR 69.4
-56.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63PKR 176
$0.90PKR 250
-30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51PKR 143
$0.55PKR 152
-7.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88PKR 245
$1.23PKR 342
-28.46%
Eggs
$1.09PKR 304
$1.11PKR 307
-1.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.25PKR 2,010
$6.16PKR 1,710
17.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.45PKR 680
$3.57PKR 989
-31.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.51PKR 972
$5.22PKR 1,447
-32.76%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89PKR 246
$1.14PKR 316
-21.93%
Banana(1kg)
$0.49PKR 135
$0.86PKR 237
-43.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.28PKR 77.3
$1.23PKR 340
-77.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54PKR 150
$0.57PKR 158
-5.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.36PKR 99.4
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.46PKR 127
-6.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49PKR 137
$0.33PKR 92.2
48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 104
$0.40PKR 111
-7.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.81PKR 503
$16.28PKR 4,518
-88.88%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20PKR 332
$1.20PKR 332
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82PKR 782
$2.46PKR 682
14.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22PKR 616
$1.93PKR 535
15.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 47.78
$0.16PKR 43.65
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.09PKR 2,800
$10.12PKR 2,808
-0.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41PKR 391
$0.91PKR 254
54.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 105
$0.38PKR 104
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.92PKR 255
$3.16PKR 877
-70.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01PKR 281
$1.13PKR 312
-10.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
37.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KPKR 7.4M
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
6.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147PKR 40.7K
$115PKR 31.9K
27.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.02PKR 1,392
$5.49PKR 1,523
-8.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.41PKR 5,386
$18.67PKR 5,178
3.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.09PKR 4,187
$12.12PKR 3,363
24.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.75PKR 1,873
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.43PKR 1,228
$4.28PKR 1,188
3.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$12.60PKR 3,495
$48.47PKR 13.4K
-74.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,018PKR 282.4K
$844PKR 234.1K
20.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.68PKR 2,962
$20.85PKR 5,784
-48.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.43PKR 3,450
$28.03PKR 7,775
-55.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$25.16PKR 6,979
$91.0PKR 25.2K
-72.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$14.25PKR 3,953
$36.28PKR 10.1K
-60.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$125PKR 34.6K
$204PKR 56.7K
-38.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.5PKR 21.5K
$82.0PKR 22.8K
-5.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255PKR 70.6K
$438PKR 121.6K
-41.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146PKR 40.6K
$225PKR 62.5K
-35.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$843PKR 233.9K
$1,164PKR 323.0K
-27.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$483PKR 133.9K
$512PKR 142.1K
-5.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakpattan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$106PKR 29.5K
$175PKR 48.4K
-39.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13
22.81
-43.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakpattan: August 31, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $125 in Pakpattan versus $204 in Rawalpindi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 64% higher in Rawalpindi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Pakpattan versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $83.0 vs $103 – making Pakpattan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Pakpattan vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pakpattan or Rawalpindi?
Rawalpindi costs about 15% more than Pakpattan, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pakpattan and in Rawalpindi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $660 per month in Pakpattan and $756 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pakpattan or Rawalpindi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pakpattan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Pakpattan and in Rawalpindi?
Kindergarten costs $12.60 per month in Pakpattan and $48.47 in Rawalpindi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Pakpattan or in Rawalpindi?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Pakpattan or in Rawalpindi?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $440 in Pakpattan and $504 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Pakpattan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Pakpattan or to Rawalpindi?
If budget matters most, go with Pakpattan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.