Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $417 in Peshawar versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $600 in Peshawar versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $783 in Peshawar versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 17% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 70% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.12 PKR 588

16.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.76 PKR 2,431

$15.93 PKR 4,419

-45.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 PKR 1,324

$5.89 PKR 1,634

-19.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 PKR 614

$1.81 PKR 502

22.10%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 PKR 796

$3.52 PKR 977

-18.47%

Cappuccino

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.94 PKR 538

-35.57%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.44 PKR 122

-29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 45.46

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-36.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.90 PKR 250

8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.55 PKR 152

34.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.23 PKR 342

-12.20%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.11 PKR 307

0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.45 PKR 957

$6.16 PKR 1,710

-43.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 861

$3.57 PKR 989

-13.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$5.22 PKR 1,447

-30.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.14 PKR 316

7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.86 PKR 237

-40.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$1.23 PKR 340

-48.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.57 PKR 158

-19.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.0

$0.36 PKR 99.4

-19.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.46 PKR 127

-32.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.5

$0.33 PKR 92.2

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 68.5

$0.40 PKR 111

-37.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.94 PKR 540

$16.28 PKR 4,518

-88.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.20 PKR 332

-41.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

$2.46 PKR 682

-70.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 PKR 512

$1.93 PKR 535

-4.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.16 PKR 43.65

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 PKR 3,516

$10.12 PKR 2,808

25.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$0.91 PKR 254

20.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.38 PKR 104

84.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 PKR 404

$3.16 PKR 877

-53.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.13 PKR 312

-1.77%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

25.26%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

0.09%

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

$101 PKR 28.2K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-11.75%

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

$5.77 PKR 1,600

$5.49 PKR 1,523

5.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.47 PKR 4,016

$18.67 PKR 5,178

-22.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,314

$12.12 PKR 3,363

28.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,677

$6.75 PKR 1,873

-10.37%

Cinema Ticket

$1.92 PKR 534

$4.28 PKR 1,188

-55.14%

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

$46.40 PKR 12.9K

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

-4.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,981 PKR 1.4M

$844 PKR 234.1K

490.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.10 PKR 1,969

$20.85 PKR 5,784

-65.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.36 PKR 4,540

$28.03 PKR 7,775

-41.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 PKR 14.2K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

-43.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.09 PKR 10.8K

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

7.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$204 PKR 56.7K

-38.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

$82.0 PKR 22.8K

-4.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$438 PKR 121.6K

-54.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.1K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-47.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 323.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$175 PKR 48.4K

-13.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

-51.78%

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

Last update for Peshawar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Peshawar and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 15% 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: $9.00 in Peshawar vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 vs $103 per month, with Peshawar 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

Peshawar vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peshawar wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Peshawar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 15% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $127 in Peshawar versus $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $417 per month in Peshawar versus $504 in Rawalpindi – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 25% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Peshawar 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 Peshawar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.