😐A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $372 in Gujranwala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $562 in Gujranwala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $753 in Gujranwala, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 15% more than Gujranwala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Gujranwala are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi68% lower, Gujranwala72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78PKR 496
$0.54PKR 151
229.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,957
$13.89PKR 3,863
2.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29PKR 1,470
$5.15PKR 1,433
2.72%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54PKR 429
$0.92PKR 255
67.39%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40PKR 947
$3.96PKR 1,100
-14.14%
Cappuccino
$1.73PKR 481
$1.31PKR 365
32.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 88.9
$0.22PKR 61.3
45.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.17PKR 47.80
35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79PKR 219
$0.73PKR 202
8.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.61PKR 170
-6.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 343
$1.11PKR 308
10.81%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 311
$1.14PKR 316
-1.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09PKR 1,693
$6.17PKR 1,717
-1.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 944
$2.50PKR 695
35.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57PKR 1,271
$4.02PKR 1,120
13.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$1.04PKR 290
-1.92%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.66PKR 184
1.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92PKR 257
$0.87PKR 243
5.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 132
$0.49PKR 136
-4.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 93.2
$0.38PKR 107
-13.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.42PKR 116
23.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26PKR 72.7
$0.33PKR 92.8
-21.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.34PKR 95.8
8.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.44PKR 4,573
$1.85PKR 515
788.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04PKR 288
$0.88PKR 244
18.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41PKR 669
$2.03PKR 566
18.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 528
$2.06PKR 574
-7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.36
$0.20PKR 54.8
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.89PKR 2,751
$7.04PKR 1,958
40.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.51PKR 143
78.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 97.5
$0.40PKR 111
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97PKR 826
$1.38PKR 384
115.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 267
$0.87PKR 242
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
-14.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$14.3KPKR 4.0M
59.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100PKR 28.0K
$112PKR 31.2K
-10.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99PKR 1,111
$3.57PKR 994
11.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.64PKR 4,630
$16.77PKR 4,664
-0.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.14PKR 2,821
$4.70PKR 1,306
115.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67PKR 2,134
$2.80PKR 778
173.93%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60PKR 1,003
$3.34PKR 930
7.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.75PKR 11.1K
$16.54PKR 4,600
140.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$962PKR 267.6K
$837PKR 232.9K
14.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.80PKR 3,282
$12.31PKR 3,423
-4.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.84PKR 5,242
$24.62PKR 6,849
-23.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8PKR 24.4K
$90.1PKR 25.1K
-2.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.38PKR 7,896
$21.32PKR 5,932
33.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.1K
$54.9PKR 15.3K
136.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.4PKR 18.5K
$19.18PKR 5,336
246.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324PKR 90.1K
$115PKR 32.1K
180.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173PKR 48.1K
$55.8PKR 15.5K
209.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,173PKR 326.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$516PKR 143.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171PKR 47.6K
$237PKR 66.0K
-27.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
20.2
-0.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026
Last update for Gujranwala: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $54.9 in Gujranwala. 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 39% higher in Gujranwala, 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 $14.00 in Gujranwala. Groceries tell a different story – $95.0 in Rawalpindi vs $88.0 in Gujranwala – so Gujranwala 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 Gujranwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rawalpindi and Gujranwala compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $429 in Rawalpindi, $372 in Gujranwala – roughly 15% apart. Rawalpindi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Rawalpindi compared to Gujranwala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Rawalpindi and $557 in Gujranwala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rawalpindi and Gujranwala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gujranwala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $14.00 in Gujranwala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rawalpindi or Gujranwala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $429 in Rawalpindi and $372 in Gujranwala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Rawalpindi vs Gujranwala?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Rawalpindi and $372 in Gujranwala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Rawalpindi or Gujranwala?
Families tend to lean toward Gujranwala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Rawalpindi and Gujranwala?
If budget matters most, go with Gujranwala. 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