😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $442 in Burewala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $657 in Burewala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $873 in Burewala.
🌍Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 14% more expensive than in Burewala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi63% lower, Burewala68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.12PKR 588
$2.04PKR 565
3.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.93PKR 4,419
$10.63PKR 2,948
49.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89PKR 1,634
$5.39PKR 1,496
9.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 502
$2.43PKR 675
-25.51%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52PKR 977
$4.58PKR 1,269
-23.14%
Cappuccino
$1.94PKR 538
$1.47PKR 409
31.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.36PKR 99.0
22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.24PKR 66.3
4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 250
$0.82PKR 227
9.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$0.59PKR 165
-6.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 342
$1.16PKR 321
6.03%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 307
$1.24PKR 345
-10.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.16PKR 1,710
$5.80PKR 1,610
6.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57PKR 989
$2.62PKR 727
36.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.22PKR 1,447
$4.94PKR 1,370
5.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14PKR 316
$1.13PKR 314
0.88%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86PKR 237
$0.56PKR 154
53.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$0.74PKR 205
66.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.49PKR 135
16.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.4
$0.27PKR 74.8
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46PKR 127
$0.33PKR 90.9
39.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.2
$0.27PKR 75.9
22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.37PKR 102
8.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.28PKR 4,518
$1.87PKR 518
770.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20PKR 332
$1.11PKR 307
8.11%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46PKR 682
$2.38PKR 659
3.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93PKR 535
$2.07PKR 576
-6.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.65
$0.19PKR 52.7
-15.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12PKR 2,808
$9.99PKR 2,771
1.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 254
$0.95PKR 263
-4.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 104
$0.72PKR 200
-47.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16PKR 877
$1.57PKR 435
101.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13PKR 312
$1.05PKR 292
7.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
$24.8KPKR 6.9M
-26.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
$27.6KPKR 7.7M
-9.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115PKR 31.9K
$117PKR 32.5K
-1.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49PKR 1,523
$5.36PKR 1,487
2.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67PKR 5,178
$12.54PKR 3,478
48.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.12PKR 3,363
$15.87PKR 4,404
-23.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.75PKR 1,873
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28PKR 1,188
$4.13PKR 1,145
3.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.47PKR 13.4K
$36.96PKR 10.3K
31.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$844PKR 234.1K
$1,145PKR 317.7K
-26.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85PKR 5,784
$14.56PKR 4,039
43.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.03PKR 7,775
$19.38PKR 5,377
44.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0PKR 25.2K
$70.0PKR 19.4K
30.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.28PKR 10.1K
$28.71PKR 7,965
26.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204PKR 56.7K
$124PKR 34.4K
64.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.0PKR 22.8K
$80.7PKR 22.4K
1.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438PKR 121.6K
$255PKR 70.7K
72.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225PKR 62.5K
$167PKR 46.4K
34.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,164PKR 323.0K
$793PKR 220.0K
46.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512PKR 142.1K
$560PKR 155.4K
-8.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
12.88
77.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Last update for Burewala: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Rawalpindi and $124 in Burewala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Burewala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $90.0 per month, with Burewala 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
Rawalpindi vs Burewala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Burewala?
Burewala wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Burewala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rawalpindi and in Burewala?
You'd need roughly $756 in Rawalpindi and $663 in Burewala to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rawalpindi compared to Burewala?
Rent for a central apartment: $204 in Rawalpindi versus $124 in Burewala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Rawalpindi compared to Burewala?
A monthly transit pass in Burewala runs roughly 1% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Burewala?
Childcare runs $48.47 in Rawalpindi versus $36.96 in Burewala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Rawalpindi or in Burewala?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Burewala gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rawalpindi or Burewala?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Burewala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared