Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Chengalpattu Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Chengalpattu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $382 in Chengalpattu, rent included.

A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $610 in Chengalpattu, rent included.

A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $837 in Chengalpattu, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 12% more than Chengalpattu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rawalpindi and Chengalpattu are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Chengalpattu 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.29 ₹219

-22.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$10.38 ₹994

36.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$3.64 ₹349

45.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.53 ₹147

13.07%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.40 ₹38.23

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.19 ₹18.55

21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₹164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₹292

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.70 ₹67.0

12.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.48 ₹46.25

18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$0.67 ₹64.6

83.58%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.07 ₹103

4.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$4.94 ₹473

23.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$3.07 ₹294

10.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$2.08 ₹199

-50.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.68 ₹65.1

-1.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$1.00 ₹96.0

-8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.54 ₹51.3

-12.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.39 ₹37.04

-15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.44 ₹42.59

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.46 ₹43.58

-43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.32 ₹30.21

15.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$3.88 ₹371

-51.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₹420

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₹162

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ₹274

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.24 ₹502

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.30 ₹29.08

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$8.55 ₹819

15.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.78 ₹75.0

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.24 ₹22.87

45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.48 ₹141

100.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$1.24 ₹119

-22.58%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$13.7K ₹1.3M

31.43%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.6K ₹2.1M

5.59%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$39.49 ₹3,782

154.44%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$3.50 ₹335

14.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$7.29 ₹698

128.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$16.05 ₹1,538

-36.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$6.98 ₹668

9.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$2.96 ₹283

21.62%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$51.8 ₹4,965

-23.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,548 ₹148.3K

-37.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$23.87 ₹2,286

-50.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$24.86 ₹2,381

-24.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$42.23 ₹4,045

107.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$31.53 ₹3,020

-9.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$126 ₹12.1K

2.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$75.5 ₹7,234

-12.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$270 ₹25.9K

19.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$181 ₹17.4K

-4.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$715 ₹68.5K

63.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$459 ₹44.0K

12.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$578 ₹55.4K

-70.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

8.67

132.64%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chengalpattu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $126 in Chengalpattu. 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 238% higher in Chengalpattu, 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 $10.00 in Chengalpattu. Groceries tell a different story – $95.0 in Rawalpindi vs $101 in Chengalpattu – so Rawalpindi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Chengalpattu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Rawalpindi and $574 in Chengalpattu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 16% less in Chengalpattu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $39.75 per month in Rawalpindi and $51.8 in Chengalpattu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Rawalpindi and $382 in Chengalpattu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Chengalpattu – 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 Chengalpattu. 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.