😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $426 in Burewala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $646 in Burewala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $866 in Burewala.
🌍Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 3% more expensive than in Burewala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi67% lower, Burewala68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$3.07PKR 853
-40.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.95PKR 3,873
$9.03PKR 2,507
54.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40PKR 1,499
$4.14PKR 1,148
30.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56PKR 433
$4.41PKR 1,223
-64.63%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 980
$3.44PKR 956
2.62%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 474
$1.82PKR 506
-6.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$0.50PKR 140
-38.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.37PKR 103
-37.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.89PKR 246
-3.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.78PKR 217
-32.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PKR 361
$2.23PKR 620
-41.70%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 312
$0.88PKR 244
27.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,674
$6.15PKR 1,709
-1.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKR 953
$3.35PKR 930
2.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.40PKR 1,221
$6.99PKR 1,941
-37.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 280
$1.36PKR 377
-25.74%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.77PKR 215
-10.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.66PKR 184
28.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 129
$0.25PKR 69.7
88.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.21PKR 58.3
61.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.73PKR 204
-28.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.0
$0.31PKR 85.7
-22.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.34PKR 95.8
14.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.04PKR 4,454
$1.37PKR 382
1070.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 274
$0.93PKR 258
6.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40PKR 666
$1.97PKR 546
21.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91PKR 531
$2.10PKR 583
-9.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.1
$0.21PKR 57.0
-4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.52PKR 2,645
$7.23PKR 2,009
31.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 240
$0.85PKR 236
1.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 89.7
$0.41PKR 113
-21.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92PKR 811
$1.81PKR 502
61.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 270
$0.99PKR 274
-2.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$21.2KPKR 5.9M
-16.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$23.1KPKR 6.4M
-1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.8K
$101PKR 28.1K
2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04PKR 1,121
$4.17PKR 1,157
-3.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.63PKR 4,618
$13.58PKR 3,771
22.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.97PKR 2,768
$12.24PKR 3,399
-18.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43PKR 2,062
$6.00PKR 1,667
23.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47PKR 964
$3.51PKR 973
-1.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.20PKR 11.2K
$29.88PKR 8,298
34.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$948PKR 263.3K
$1,120PKR 311.1K
-15.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90PKR 3,304
$15.19PKR 4,217
-21.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.45PKR 5,124
$22.37PKR 6,213
-17.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PKR 24.9K
$70.8PKR 19.7K
26.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.00PKR 8,052
$29.25PKR 8,122
-0.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 36.8K
$75.1PKR 20.9K
76.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.1PKR 18.1K
$51.8PKR 14.4K
25.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330PKR 91.6K
$164PKR 45.4K
101.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171PKR 47.4K
$106PKR 29.5K
60.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,176PKR 326.5K
$927PKR 257.5K
26.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$518PKR 143.8K
$492PKR 136.7K
5.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Burewala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
19
6.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Last update for Burewala: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $75.1 in Burewala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $9.00 in Burewala. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 vs $108, with Rawalpindi cheaper for home cooking.
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 3% 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 $656 in Rawalpindi and $639 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $75.1 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 32% 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 $40.20 in Rawalpindi versus $29.88 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 3% 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