Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi versus $293 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $458 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $917 in Rawalpindi versus $623 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 45% more expensive than Dera Ghazi Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Dera Ghazi Khan 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.14 PKR 317

53.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.30 PKR 3,985

$10.47 PKR 2,918

36.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 PKR 1,501

$2.45 PKR 683

119.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 PKR 454

$1.08 PKR 302

50.93%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 985

$1.82 PKR 507

93.96%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 477

$1.50 PKR 419

14.00%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.8

$0.31 PKR 85.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.22 PKR 61.3

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 238

$0.76 PKR 212

11.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.42 PKR 118

23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 360

$1.23 PKR 343

4.88%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 329

$1.19 PKR 333

-0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,724

$2.67 PKR 745

131.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 PKR 959

$1.91 PKR 532

80.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.46 PKR 1,244

$3.11 PKR 867

43.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 280

$1.03 PKR 286

-2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.55 PKR 152

16.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.59 PKR 166

45.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.52 PKR 146

-7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.34 PKR 95.6

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.39 PKR 109

25.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.3

$0.59 PKR 164

-59.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.92 PKR 4,437

$1.46 PKR 407

990.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 277

$0.93 PKR 260

6.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 PKR 643

$1.98 PKR 551

16.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 541

$1.80 PKR 503

7.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.8

$0.19 PKR 53.1

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 PKR 2,774

$7.12 PKR 1,985

39.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 234

$1.03 PKR 288

-18.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.31 PKR 85.5

12.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 PKR 856

$1.74 PKR 484

76.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.96 PKR 269

1.04%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.7K PKR 6.1M

-19.10%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

11.38%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$59.0 PKR 16.5K

74.11%

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

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$2.26 PKR 631

74.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.31 PKR 4,545

$13.04 PKR 3,634

25.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 PKR 2,784

$12.39 PKR 3,455

-19.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 PKR 2,097

$5.84 PKR 1,628

28.77%

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 PKR 1,015

$3.55 PKR 991

2.54%

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

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$28.44 PKR 7,929

40.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$953 PKR 265.7K

$1,139 PKR 317.4K

-16.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 PKR 3,246

$16.17 PKR 4,508

-28.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.40 PKR 5,131

$22.18 PKR 6,184

-17.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

$59.8 PKR 16.7K

48.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.47 PKR 7,937

$25.80 PKR 7,192

10.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.2K

$55.8 PKR 15.6K

132.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

$30.29 PKR 8,444

113.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 91.2K

$116 PKR 32.4K

181.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 PKR 48.5K

$68.1 PKR 19.0K

155.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 PKR 323.0K

$805 PKR 224.5K

43.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 PKR 145.4K

$564 PKR 157.2K

-7.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 PKR 48.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

12.06%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $55.8 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $10.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $70.0 per month, with Dera Ghazi Khan 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 Dera Ghazi Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $293 including rent). Dera Ghazi Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $635 in Rawalpindi and $439 in Dera Ghazi Khan 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $55.8 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dera Ghazi Khan runs roughly 40% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $39.91 in Rawalpindi versus $28.44 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Dera Ghazi Khan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Dera Ghazi Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.