Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Faisalabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Faisalabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $349 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $548 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $746 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 25% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rawalpindi and Faisalabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 67% lower, Faisalabad 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.78 PKR 495

2.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$10.58 PKR 2,937

31.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.45 PKR 958

56.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$2.77 PKR 769

-43.68%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$4.69 PKR 1,303

-24.73%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.46 PKR 406

17.12%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.33 PKR 92.2

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.22 PKR 60.7

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.71 PKR 197

21.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.63 PKR 176

-15.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.26 PKR 349

3.17%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.14 PKR 316

-1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-16.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$2.64 PKR 733

29.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.27 PKR 907

34.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.03 PKR 285

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.55 PKR 152

25.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.62 PKR 173

37.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.53 PKR 146

-11.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.35 PKR 95.8

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.51 PKR 142

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.58 PKR 161

-58.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.43 PKR 118

-9.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.03 PKR 286

1457.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.72 PKR 201

37.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$3.49 PKR 970

-31.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.90 PKR 529

0.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.21 PKR 57.3

-4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$3.52 PKR 978

170.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.04 PKR 288

-17.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.36 PKR 101

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.80 PKR 500

62.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.97 PKR 269

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

-19.65%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

8.68%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

75.33%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$3.76 PKR 1,045

7.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$12.89 PKR 3,578

29.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$15.16 PKR 4,209

-34.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$10.77 PKR 2,990

-31.01%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$28.39 PKR 7,883

41.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,144 PKR 317.5K

-17.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$16.26 PKR 4,516

-26.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$21.92 PKR 6,087

-15.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

50.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$25.61 PKR 7,112

13.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$71.6 PKR 19.9K

85.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$47.84 PKR 13.3K

36.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$146 PKR 40.6K

125.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$106 PKR 29.5K

60.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$535 PKR 148.6K

119.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$250 PKR 69.6K

106.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$190 PKR 52.6K

-7.89%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Faisalabad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $71.6 in Faisalabad. 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 9% higher in Faisalabad, 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 $11.00 in Faisalabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $91.0 – making Faisalabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Faisalabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 25% more than Faisalabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $524 in Faisalabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 4% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $11.00 in Faisalabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rawalpindi and $349 in Faisalabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Faisalabad – 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 Faisalabad. 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.