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: $379 in Peshawar versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $564 in Peshawar versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $749 in Peshawar versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 12% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 72% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 PKR 621

$1.78 PKR 496

25.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.77 PKR 2,995

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-24.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-32.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.54 PKR 429

-6.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PKR 758

$3.40 PKR 947

-19.71%

Cappuccino

$1.77 PKR 492

$1.73 PKR 481

2.31%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.8

$0.32 PKR 88.9

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 47.72

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-26.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 227

$0.79 PKR 219

3.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.57 PKR 158

7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.23 PKR 343

-8.94%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 346

$1.12 PKR 311

10.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.36 PKR 935

$6.09 PKR 1,693

-44.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 855

$3.39 PKR 944

-9.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.66 PKR 1,017

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-19.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.02 PKR 283

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.67 PKR 186

-2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.92 PKR 257

5.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 126

$0.47 PKR 132

-4.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 93.2

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.52 PKR 144

-13.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.26 PKR 72.7

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.1

$0.37 PKR 102

-13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.75 PKR 208

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-95.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 PKR 435

$1.04 PKR 288

50.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 969

$2.41 PKR 669

44.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 PKR 502

$1.90 PKR 528

-5.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.28

$0.18 PKR 49.36

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,918

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-30.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.91 PKR 253

-25.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.35 PKR 97.5

114.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.97 PKR 826

-38.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.96 PKR 267

4.17%

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

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-33.83%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

0.09%

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

$96.3 PKR 26.8K

$100 PKR 28.0K

-4.13%

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

$4.24 PKR 1,179

$3.99 PKR 1,111

6.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.89 PKR 3,028

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-34.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.91 PKR 2,757

$10.14 PKR 2,821

-2.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 PKR 1,913

$7.67 PKR 2,134

-10.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,191

$3.60 PKR 1,003

18.89%

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

$30.41 PKR 8,459

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-23.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$519 PKR 144.5K

$962 PKR 267.6K

-46.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.14 PKR 3,656

$11.80 PKR 3,282

11.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 PKR 5,346

$18.84 PKR 5,242

2.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.29 PKR 10.7K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-56.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.48 PKR 9,035

$28.38 PKR 7,896

14.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.2K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-7.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-22.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 PKR 57.4K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-36.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-44.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$171 PKR 47.6K

0.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.17

20.17

4.96%

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

Last update for Peshawar: May 30, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Peshawar and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Peshawar pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Peshawar vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 vs $95.0 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 13% 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.

Peshawar pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $119 in Peshawar versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $379 per month in Peshawar versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 43% 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 13% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.