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: $372 in Peshawar versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $554 in Peshawar versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $736 in Peshawar versus $905 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 15% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 72% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 PKR 651

$1.82 PKR 505

28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,985

$13.95 PKR 3,873

-22.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 PKR 1,000

$5.40 PKR 1,499

-33.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 PKR 398

$1.56 PKR 433

-8.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 PKR 725

$3.53 PKR 980

-26.06%

Cappuccino

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.71 PKR 474

6.43%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.8

$0.31 PKR 87.1

-9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 49.00

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-21.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 225

$0.86 PKR 239

-5.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.53 PKR 146

7.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.30 PKR 361

-13.85%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.12 PKR 312

6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.38 PKR 939

$6.03 PKR 1,674

-43.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 PKR 872

$3.43 PKR 953

-8.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.78 PKR 1,051

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-14.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.01 PKR 280

2.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.69 PKR 191

-11.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.85 PKR 236

8.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.47 PKR 129

-8.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.34 PKR 94.1

17.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.52 PKR 145

-13.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.24 PKR 66.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.8

$0.39 PKR 109

-17.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.68 PKR 190

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-95.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PKR 452

$0.99 PKR 274

64.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 999

$2.40 PKR 666

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 PKR 522

$1.91 PKR 531

-1.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.20 PKR 56.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,918

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-27.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.86 PKR 240

-19.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.32 PKR 89.7

128.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.92 PKR 811

-38.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.97 PKR 270

3.09%

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

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

-32.30%

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

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-0.93%

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

$98.5 PKR 27.3K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-5.05%

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

$4.32 PKR 1,201

$4.04 PKR 1,121

6.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.62 PKR 2,949

$16.63 PKR 4,618

-36.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.96 PKR 2,766

$9.97 PKR 2,768

-0.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 PKR 1,850

$7.43 PKR 2,062

-10.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 PKR 1,164

$3.47 PKR 964

20.75%

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

$29.39 PKR 8,162

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

-26.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$518 PKR 143.7K

$948 PKR 263.3K

-45.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.06 PKR 3,628

$11.90 PKR 3,304

9.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 PKR 5,447

$18.45 PKR 5,124

6.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.69 PKR 10.7K

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-56.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.49 PKR 9,022

$29.00 PKR 8,052

12.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.2K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-9.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

-20.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 PKR 56.1K

$330 PKR 91.6K

-38.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.0 PKR 26.4K

$171 PKR 47.4K

-44.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$128 PKR 35.5K

$175 PKR 48.5K

-26.89%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Peshawar and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 37% 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: $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 18% 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 37% 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: $120 in Peshawar versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $372 per month in Peshawar versus $437 in Rawalpindi – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 38% 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 18% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.