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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $350 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $540 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $730 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 23% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rawalpindi and Faisalabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Faisalabad 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.74 PKR 483

2.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$10.75 PKR 2,990

32.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$3.56 PKR 990

48.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$2.82 PKR 784

-45.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$4.71 PKR 1,310

-27.81%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.50 PKR 418

15.33%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.33 PKR 92.2

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.2

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.76 PKR 213

3.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.64 PKR 178

-10.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.27 PKR 353

-3.15%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.14 PKR 317

-1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$7.10 PKR 1,974

-14.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.64 PKR 734

28.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.14 PKR 872

45.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.02 PKR 284

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.55 PKR 153

21.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.67 PKR 186

37.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.52 PKR 144

-9.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.37 PKR 104

-10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.55 PKR 152

-5.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.64 PKR 177

-59.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.40 PKR 111

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$0.98 PKR 272

1577.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.68 PKR 189

52.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$3.44 PKR 956

-29.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.85 PKR 514

2.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.17 PKR 45.99

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$3.47 PKR 964

185.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.09 PKR 302

-16.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.37 PKR 102

-5.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.72 PKR 480

72.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.96 PKR 268

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

-17.45%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

6.65%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$57.7 PKR 16.1K

74.02%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$3.75 PKR 1,042

6.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$12.96 PKR 3,604

28.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$14.85 PKR 4,130

-31.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,134

$10.76 PKR 2,994

-28.72%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$3.50 PKR 974

2.86%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$28.40 PKR 7,899

39.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,119 PKR 311.3K

-14.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$15.94 PKR 4,435

-25.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$22.28 PKR 6,198

-15.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

44.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$25.64 PKR 7,134

10.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$70.6 PKR 19.6K

83.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$47.75 PKR 13.3K

39.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$150 PKR 41.7K

115.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$108 PKR 29.9K

60.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$537 PKR 149.4K

118.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.5K

$256 PKR 71.3K

101.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$194 PKR 53.9K

-11.69%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Faisalabad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $70.6 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 13% 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 23% 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 $644 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 $429 in Rawalpindi and $350 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.