Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Abbottabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Abbottabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $504 per month in Rawalpindi vs $300 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Rawalpindi vs $475 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,069 per month in Rawalpindi vs $650 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 68% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rawalpindi and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 63% lower, Abbottabad 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$1.78 PKR 494

19.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,416

$10.64 PKR 2,951

49.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,633

$5.33 PKR 1,479

10.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$3.60 PKR 997

-49.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 976

$1.75 PKR 485

101.14%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 538

$1.22 PKR 339

59.02%

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

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.32 PKR 90.0

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.22 PKR 60.9

13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.85 PKR 234

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.73 PKR 202

-24.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.22 PKR 338

0.82%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.24 PKR 345

-10.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,708

$3.51 PKR 973

75.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 988

$2.39 PKR 662

49.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,446

$5.25 PKR 1,456

-0.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.10 PKR 304

3.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.84 PKR 232

2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$0.86 PKR 239

43.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.43 PKR 119

32.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.26 PKR 72.2

38.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.33 PKR 90.8

39.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.27 PKR 73.8

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.30 PKR 82.5

33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,515

$2.01 PKR 557

709.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.32 PKR 365

-9.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.45 PKR 679

0.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$1.67 PKR 464

15.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.62

$0.26 PKR 72.3

-38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,807

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.29 PKR 356

-29.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.34 PKR 94.9

11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 876

$1.64 PKR 456

92.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$1.14 PKR 316

-0.88%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

-16.17%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$25.2K PKR 7.0M

-0.78%

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

$115 PKR 31.9K

$54.3 PKR 15.1K

111.77%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,522

$3.62 PKR 1,004

51.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,175

$12.83 PKR 3,557

45.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,361

$13.57 PKR 3,764

-10.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,872

$3.58 PKR 992

88.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$4.97 PKR 1,377

-13.88%

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

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$27.43 PKR 7,605

76.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 234.0K

$539 PKR 149.3K

56.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,780

$8.89 PKR 2,465

134.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,771

$7.38 PKR 2,046

279.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

9.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$10.63 PKR 2,947

241.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.7K

$35.58 PKR 9,865

474.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

$21.79 PKR 6,041

276.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.5K

$110 PKR 30.4K

299.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$53.9 PKR 14.9K

318.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

$198 PKR 55.0K

-11.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

13.08

74.39%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Rawalpindi versus $35.58 in Abbottabad. 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 13% higher in Abbottabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Abbottabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $86.0 – making Abbottabad 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

Rawalpindi vs Abbottabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 68% more than Abbottabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $756 per month in Rawalpindi and $449 in Abbottabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abbottabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Rawalpindi and $11.00 in Abbottabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $504 in Rawalpindi and $300 in Abbottabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Abbottabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Abbottabad. 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.