😐A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $372 in Gujranwala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $555 in Gujranwala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $738 in Gujranwala, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 18% more than Gujranwala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Gujranwala are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi67% lower, Gujranwala72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$0.55PKR 152
230.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.95PKR 3,873
$14.07PKR 3,906
-0.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40PKR 1,499
$5.33PKR 1,479
1.31%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56PKR 433
$0.84PKR 233
85.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 980
$3.87PKR 1,075
-8.79%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 474
$1.30PKR 360
31.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$0.20PKR 55.5
55.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.18PKR 50.5
27.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.71PKR 197
21.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.67PKR 186
-20.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PKR 361
$1.14PKR 316
14.04%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 312
$1.10PKR 304
1.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,674
$6.13PKR 1,702
-1.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKR 953
$2.47PKR 685
38.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.40PKR 1,221
$4.00PKR 1,111
10.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 280
$1.00PKR 278
1.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.61PKR 169
13.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.88PKR 244
-3.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 129
$0.46PKR 127
2.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.36PKR 99.6
-5.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.46PKR 127
13.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.0
$0.31PKR 85.9
-22.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.35PKR 97.2
11.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.04PKR 4,454
$1.79PKR 497
796.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 274
$0.87PKR 241
13.79%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40PKR 666
$2.06PKR 572
16.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91PKR 531
$1.99PKR 552
-4.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.1
$0.18PKR 50.9
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.52PKR 2,645
$7.04PKR 1,955
35.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 240
$0.55PKR 153
56.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 89.7
$0.43PKR 120
-25.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92PKR 811
$1.38PKR 384
111.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 270
$0.93PKR 259
4.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
-16.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$14.1KPKR 3.9M
61.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.8K
$111PKR 30.8K
-6.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04PKR 1,121
$3.60PKR 999
12.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.63PKR 4,618
$16.44PKR 4,566
1.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.97PKR 2,768
$4.64PKR 1,289
114.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43PKR 2,062
$2.79PKR 776
166.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47PKR 964
$3.42PKR 951
1.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.20PKR 11.2K
$17.06PKR 4,738
135.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$948PKR 263.3K
$859PKR 238.5K
10.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90PKR 3,304
$12.61PKR 3,502
-5.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.45PKR 5,124
$24.34PKR 6,759
-24.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PKR 24.9K
$88.5PKR 24.6K
1.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.00PKR 8,052
$21.33PKR 5,922
35.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 36.8K
$55.2PKR 15.3K
140.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.1PKR 18.1K
$19.62PKR 5,447
231.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330PKR 91.6K
$115PKR 31.8K
188.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171PKR 47.4K
$56.8PKR 15.8K
200.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,176PKR 326.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$518PKR 143.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Gujranwala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.5K
$232PKR 64.4K
-24.74%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Gujranwala: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $55.2 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 33% 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 $87.0 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 in Gujranwala compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi, $372 in Gujranwala – roughly 18% 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 $656 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 $437 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 compared to Gujranwala?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 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