🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $444 in Haroonabad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $661 in Haroonabad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $878 in Haroonabad.
🙂Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 3% less than in Haroonabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi68% lower, Haroonabad67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78PKR 496
$2.16PKR 602
-17.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,958
$10.76PKR 2,993
32.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29PKR 1,471
$4.34PKR 1,207
21.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54PKR 429
$2.88PKR 801
-46.53%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40PKR 947
$3.75PKR 1,044
-9.33%
Cappuccino
$1.73PKR 481
$2.38PKR 661
-27.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 88.9
$0.35PKR 97.4
-8.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.21PKR 58.3
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79PKR 219
$0.95PKR 264
-16.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.58PKR 160
-1.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 343
$1.16PKR 322
6.03%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 311
$1.20PKR 335
-6.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09PKR 1,694
$5.87PKR 1,633
3.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 944
$2.43PKR 676
39.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57PKR 1,271
$4.43PKR 1,232
3.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$1.01PKR 282
0.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.65PKR 180
3.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92PKR 257
$0.61PKR 171
50.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 132
$0.48PKR 134
-2.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 93.2
$0.33PKR 90.8
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.48PKR 134
8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26PKR 72.8
$0.48PKR 133
-45.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.36PKR 102
2.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.44PKR 4,575
$0.88PKR 246
1768.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04PKR 289
$0.51PKR 142
103.92%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41PKR 670
$1.10PKR 307
119.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 528
$1.91PKR 531
-0.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.38
$0.15PKR 42.95
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.89PKR 2,752
$7.09PKR 1,972
39.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.73PKR 203
24.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 97.6
$0.49PKR 136
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97PKR 826
$1.82PKR 507
63.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 267
$0.91PKR 252
5.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
-0.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$22.9KPKR 6.4M
-0.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100PKR 28.0K
$137PKR 38.1K
-26.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99PKR 1,111
$5.34PKR 1,487
-25.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.64PKR 4,631
$10.49PKR 2,919
58.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.14PKR 2,822
$12.37PKR 3,441
-18.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67PKR 2,135
$5.85PKR 1,628
31.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60PKR 1,003
$4.13PKR 1,150
-12.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.75PKR 11.1K
$10.58PKR 2,944
275.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$962PKR 267.7K
$1,043PKR 290.3K
-7.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.80PKR 3,283
$10.74PKR 2,989
9.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.84PKR 5,244
$22.47PKR 6,254
-16.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8PKR 24.4K
$73.1PKR 20.3K
20.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.38PKR 7,899
$28.15PKR 7,834
0.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.1K
$76.0PKR 21.1K
70.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.4PKR 18.5K
$51.7PKR 14.4K
28.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324PKR 90.2K
$165PKR 45.9K
96.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173PKR 48.1K
$105PKR 29.3K
63.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,173PKR 326.5K
$928PKR 258.2K
26.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$516PKR 143.6K
$532PKR 148.1K
-3.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171PKR 47.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
19.88
1.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026
Last update for Haroonabad: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $76.0 in Haroonabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Haroonabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $90.0 per month, with Haroonabad cheaper across the board.
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 Haroonabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Haroonabad?
Rawalpindi wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Haroonabad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rawalpindi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rawalpindi vs Haroonabad?
You'd need roughly $644 in Rawalpindi and $667 in Haroonabad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rawalpindi vs Haroonabad?
Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $76.0 in Haroonabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Rawalpindi and Haroonabad?
Childcare runs $39.75 in Rawalpindi versus $10.58 in Haroonabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Rawalpindi or Haroonabad?
Shoppers in Haroonabad pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Rawalpindi or Haroonabad?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rawalpindi or Haroonabad?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Haroonabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared