Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Gujranwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Gujranwala

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Gujranwala 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 PKR 496
$0.54 PKR 151
229.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22 PKR 3,957
$13.89 PKR 3,863
2.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.29 PKR 1,470
$5.15 PKR 1,433
2.72%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 PKR 429
$0.92 PKR 255
67.39%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 PKR 947
$3.96 PKR 1,100
-14.14%
Cappuccino
$1.73 PKR 481
$1.31 PKR 365
32.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 88.9
$0.22 PKR 61.3
45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.2
$0.17 PKR 47.80
35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 PKR 219
$0.73 PKR 202
8.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.61 PKR 170
-6.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 PKR 343
$1.11 PKR 308
10.81%
Eggs
$1.12 PKR 311
$1.14 PKR 316
-1.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.09 PKR 1,693
$6.17 PKR 1,717
-1.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 PKR 944
$2.50 PKR 695
35.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.57 PKR 1,271
$4.02 PKR 1,120
13.68%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 PKR 283
$1.04 PKR 290
-1.92%
Banana (1kg)
$0.67 PKR 186
$0.66 PKR 184
1.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 PKR 257
$0.87 PKR 243
5.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 132
$0.49 PKR 136
-4.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 93.2
$0.38 PKR 107
-13.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.42 PKR 116
23.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 PKR 72.7
$0.33 PKR 92.8
-21.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 102
$0.34 PKR 95.8
8.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$16.44 PKR 4,573
$1.85 PKR 515
788.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 PKR 288
$0.88 PKR 244
18.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 PKR 669
$2.03 PKR 566
18.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 PKR 528
$2.06 PKR 574
-7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 49.36
$0.20 PKR 54.8
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.89 PKR 2,751
$7.04 PKR 1,958
40.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.51 PKR 143
78.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 PKR 97.5
$0.40 PKR 111
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 PKR 826
$1.38 PKR 384
115.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 PKR 267
$0.87 PKR 242
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K PKR 5.0M
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
-14.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
$14.3K PKR 4.0M
59.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 PKR 28.0K
$112 PKR 31.2K
-10.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99 PKR 1,111
$3.57 PKR 994
11.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.64 PKR 4,630
$16.77 PKR 4,664
-0.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.14 PKR 2,821
$4.70 PKR 1,306
115.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67 PKR 2,134
$2.80 PKR 778
173.93%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60 PKR 1,003
$3.34 PKR 930
7.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.75 PKR 11.1K
$16.54 PKR 4,600
140.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$962 PKR 267.6K
$837 PKR 232.9K
14.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.80 PKR 3,282
$12.31 PKR 3,423
-4.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.84 PKR 5,242
$24.62 PKR 6,849
-23.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 PKR 24.4K
$90.1 PKR 25.1K
-2.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.38 PKR 7,896
$21.32 PKR 5,932
33.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$130 PKR 36.1K
$54.9 PKR 15.3K
136.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$66.4 PKR 18.5K
$19.18 PKR 5,336
246.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$324 PKR 90.1K
$115 PKR 32.1K
180.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 PKR 48.1K
$55.8 PKR 15.5K
209.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,173 PKR 326.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$516 PKR 143.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$171 PKR 47.6K
$237 PKR 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.

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