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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $309 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $484 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $659 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 39% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Abbottabad 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.72 PKR 478

3.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$12.16 PKR 3,384

16.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$5.28 PKR 1,469

0.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.80 PKR 500

-14.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$1.72 PKR 479

97.67%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.44 PKR 400

20.14%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.31 PKR 85.1

3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.21 PKR 58.3

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.77 PKR 216

2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.66 PKR 183

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.15 PKR 320

6.96%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.20 PKR 333

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$3.61 PKR 1,004

68.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.26 PKR 628

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$4.56 PKR 1,269

0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.92 PKR 256

10.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.79 PKR 219

-15.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.84 PKR 232

9.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.53 PKR 148

-11.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.30 PKR 82.5

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.48 PKR 134

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.31 PKR 85.2

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.16 PKR 45.66

131.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.98 PKR 550

730.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.87 PKR 241

19.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$2.03 PKR 566

18.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.82 PKR 506

4.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.24 PKR 66.3

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$7.11 PKR 1,978

39.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.90 PKR 251

1.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.43 PKR 121

-18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$2.75 PKR 766

8.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.95 PKR 264

1.05%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-14.79%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-11.99%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$43.84 PKR 12.2K

129.20%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$3.07 PKR 855

29.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$18.44 PKR 5,128

-9.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$17.48 PKR 4,864

-41.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,134

$3.52 PKR 979

117.90%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$4.30 PKR 1,196

-16.28%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$35.21 PKR 9,795

12.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$524 PKR 145.7K

83.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$9.10 PKR 2,531

29.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$6.98 PKR 1,943

169.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$87.5 PKR 24.3K

0.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$12.54 PKR 3,487

126.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$35.28 PKR 9,814

267.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$21.23 PKR 5,906

212.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$169 PKR 47.1K

91.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$42.22 PKR 11.7K

309.45%

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)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$236 PKR 65.6K

-27.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

20.2

-0.15%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $35.28 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 38% 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 $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $12.00 in Abbottabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $80.0 – 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 39% more than Abbottabad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Rawalpindi and $463 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.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $39.75 per month in Rawalpindi and $35.21 in Abbottabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Rawalpindi and $309 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.