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: $431 in Rawalpindi versus $298 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $665 in Rawalpindi versus $466 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $899 in Rawalpindi versus $634 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 44% more expensive than in 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

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.16 PKR 322

54.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.27 PKR 3,959

$10.42 PKR 2,893

36.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 PKR 1,460

$2.41 PKR 669

118.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 PKR 445

$1.04 PKR 290

53.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 950

$1.74 PKR 482

96.55%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 460

$1.46 PKR 404

13.70%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.31 PKR 86.0

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.71 PKR 196

11.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.42 PKR 116

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.27 PKR 352

2.36%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.15 PKR 318

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 PKR 1,660

$2.61 PKR 723

129.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 906

$1.92 PKR 532

69.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,240

$3.10 PKR 860

44.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.98 PKR 273

4.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.59 PKR 163

6.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.60 PKR 167

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.55 PKR 153

-9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.35 PKR 96.2

5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.40 PKR 110

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.60 PKR 166

-56.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.36 PKR 101

11.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.96 PKR 4,429

$0.98 PKR 272

1528.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.86 PKR 239

18.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 658

$2.03 PKR 565

16.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 533

$1.74 PKR 482

10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.6

$0.17 PKR 48.13

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 PKR 2,663

$6.88 PKR 1,909

39.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.03 PKR 286

-17.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.33 PKR 92.2

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 PKR 858

$1.78 PKR 495

73.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.97 PKR 268

-2.06%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-21.34%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

7.77%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$57.8 PKR 16.0K

74.37%

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

$3.96 PKR 1,100

$2.36 PKR 655

67.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.35 PKR 4,537

$13.00 PKR 3,607

25.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.86 PKR 2,736

$12.55 PKR 3,484

-21.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 PKR 2,060

$5.86 PKR 1,625

26.62%

Cinema Ticket

$3.57 PKR 990

$3.62 PKR 1,005

-1.38%

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

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

$28.34 PKR 7,865

44.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$963 PKR 267.2K

$1,117 PKR 310.1K

-13.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.74 PKR 3,258

$16.05 PKR 4,453

-26.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.96 PKR 5,263

$22.46 PKR 6,233

-15.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

48.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.12 PKR 8,081

$25.63 PKR 7,114

13.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

131.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

$29.72 PKR 8,249

123.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.8K

$115 PKR 31.8K

191.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

159.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

$891 PKR 247.3K

27.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.6K

$483 PKR 134.1K

5.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $57.4 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 $94.0 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 44% in total monthly costs ($431 vs $298 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 $646 in Rawalpindi and $448 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $57.4 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 39% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $40.97 in Rawalpindi versus $28.34 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 44% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.