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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $307 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $480 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $653 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 42% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 67% lower, Abbottabad 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.73 PKR 480

5.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$12.57 PKR 3,490

10.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$5.45 PKR 1,514

-0.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.75 PKR 485

-10.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$1.72 PKR 478

105.23%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.45 PKR 403

17.93%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.34 PKR 93.1

-8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.23 PKR 64.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.83 PKR 231

3.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.61 PKR 170

-13.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.16 PKR 323

12.07%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.20 PKR 332

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$3.64 PKR 1,010

65.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 954

$2.24 PKR 623

53.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.56 PKR 1,267

-3.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.84 PKR 233

20.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.79 PKR 221

-12.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.82 PKR 226

3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.50 PKR 140

-6.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.32 PKR 89.7

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.33 PKR 92.8

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.20 PKR 54.8

95.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.92 PKR 532

735.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.92 PKR 256

7.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$2.05 PKR 569

17.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 532

$1.80 PKR 499

6.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.26 PKR 72.7

-23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$6.89 PKR 1,914

38.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.85 PKR 236

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.41 PKR 114

-21.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$2.75 PKR 762

6.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.89 PKR 247

8.99%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-18.33%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

-11.78%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$44.75 PKR 12.4K

131.71%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$2.99 PKR 831

35.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$18.53 PKR 5,146

-10.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$17.35 PKR 4,818

-42.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$3.60 PKR 999

106.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.16 PKR 1,156

-16.59%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$35.10 PKR 9,747

14.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$540 PKR 149.8K

75.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$8.97 PKR 2,492

32.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$7.17 PKR 1,991

157.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$88.6 PKR 24.6K

1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,053

$12.54 PKR 3,481

131.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$35.82 PKR 9,946

270.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$21.00 PKR 5,832

210.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$169 PKR 46.8K

95.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$42.10 PKR 11.7K

305.58%

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)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$229 PKR 63.6K

-23.81%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $35.82 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 31% 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 $13.00 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 42% 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 $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $461 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 38% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $40.20 per month in Rawalpindi and $35.10 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 $437 in Rawalpindi and $307 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.