😐A single person spends $504 per month in Rawalpindi vs $490 in Daska, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $786 per month in Rawalpindi vs $774 in Daska, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,069 per month in Rawalpindi vs $1,059 in Daska, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 3% more than Daska, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Daska are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi63% lower, Daska64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.12PKR 588
$3.58PKR 992
-40.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.93PKR 4,416
$22.48PKR 6,233
-29.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89PKR 1,633
$5.36PKR 1,487
9.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 502
$3.46PKR 958
-47.69%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52PKR 976
$6.95PKR 1,928
-49.35%
Cappuccino
$1.94PKR 538
$2.43PKR 673
-20.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.35PKR 97.9
25.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.24PKR 66.8
4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 250
$0.98PKR 270
-8.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$0.77PKR 214
-28.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 342
$1.27PKR 351
-3.15%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 307
$1.25PKR 347
-11.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.16PKR 1,708
$5.88PKR 1,630
4.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57PKR 988
$3.02PKR 836
18.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.22PKR 1,446
$4.98PKR 1,382
4.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14PKR 316
$1.22PKR 338
-6.56%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86PKR 237
$0.85PKR 235
1.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$1.07PKR 297
14.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.43PKR 119
32.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.3
$0.27PKR 74.5
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46PKR 127
$0.33PKR 92.6
39.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.1
$0.27PKR 74.7
22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.37PKR 103
8.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.28PKR 4,515
$1.83PKR 508
789.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20PKR 332
$1.33PKR 369
-9.77%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46PKR 681
$2.42PKR 672
1.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93PKR 535
$2.37PKR 658
-18.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.62
$0.16PKR 44.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12PKR 2,807
$9.84PKR 2,728
2.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 253
$1.15PKR 320
-20.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 104
$0.70PKR 193
-45.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16PKR 876
$1.76PKR 487
79.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13PKR 312
$1.27PKR 351
-11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
$21.3KPKR 5.9M
-14.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
2.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115PKR 31.9K
$103PKR 28.6K
11.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49PKR 1,522
$5.69PKR 1,579
-3.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67PKR 5,175
$16.06PKR 4,451
16.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.12PKR 3,361
$16.63PKR 4,611
-27.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.75PKR 1,872
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28PKR 1,187
$4.96PKR 1,375
-13.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.47PKR 13.4K
$74.7PKR 20.7K
-35.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$844PKR 234.0K
$1,020PKR 282.8K
-17.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85PKR 5,780
$24.16PKR 6,698
-13.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.03PKR 7,771
$32.26PKR 8,943
-13.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0PKR 25.2K
$88.9PKR 24.7K
2.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.28PKR 10.1K
$39.29PKR 10.9K
-7.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204PKR 56.7K
$118PKR 32.8K
72.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.0PKR 22.7K
$74.0PKR 20.5K
10.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438PKR 121.5K
$254PKR 70.5K
72.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225PKR 62.5K
$152PKR 42.1K
48.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,164PKR 322.8K
$922PKR 255.6K
26.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512PKR 142.1K
$504PKR 139.6K
1.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Daska
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
13.08
74.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Last update for Daska: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Rawalpindi versus $118 in Daska. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $22.00 in Daska. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Rawalpindi vs $100 in Daska – so Daska 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 Daska: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Daska?
Rawalpindi costs about 3% more than Daska, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rawalpindi and in Daska?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $756 per month in Rawalpindi and $735 in Daska. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rawalpindi or Daska?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Daska, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Rawalpindi or in Daska?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Daska?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Rawalpindi and $22.00 in Daska. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Rawalpindi or in Daska?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $504 in Rawalpindi and $490 in Daska, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Daska – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Rawalpindi compared to Daska?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Rawalpindi or to Daska?
If budget matters most, go with Daska. 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.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared