Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Haroonabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Haroonabad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $425 in Rawalpindi versus $452 in Haroonabad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $665 in Haroonabad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $914 in Rawalpindi versus $877 in Haroonabad.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 6% less than in Haroonabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Haroonabad 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73 PKR 481
$2.15 PKR 597
-19.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.24 PKR 3,953
$10.42 PKR 2,893
36.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.16 PKR 1,433
$4.21 PKR 1,170
22.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 PKR 431
$2.79 PKR 776
-44.44%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 PKR 943
$3.74 PKR 1,038
-9.09%
Cappuccino
$1.71 PKR 476
$2.29 PKR 635
-25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 95.2
$0.33 PKR 91.0
3.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 63.9
$0.23 PKR 64.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 PKR 239
$0.95 PKR 265
-9.47%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.61 PKR 170
-14.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 359
$1.17 PKR 325
10.26%
Eggs
$1.16 PKR 323
$1.20 PKR 333
-3.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.23 PKR 1,731
$6.15 PKR 1,708
1.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.32 PKR 921
$2.45 PKR 680
35.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.52 PKR 1,254
$4.49 PKR 1,248
0.67%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 PKR 261
$1.05 PKR 292
-10.48%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 PKR 177
$0.65 PKR 180
-1.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 PKR 254
$0.61 PKR 169
50.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.50 PKR 139
$0.48 PKR 133
4.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.35 PKR 97.5
2.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 133
$0.48 PKR 132
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 PKR 72.6
$0.48 PKR 133
-45.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 102
$0.37 PKR 101
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$16.39 PKR 4,552
$1.07 PKR 296
1431.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 PKR 284
$0.55 PKR 154
85.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 PKR 633
$1.06 PKR 294
115.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 PKR 550
$1.89 PKR 526
4.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 PKR 57.1
$0.20 PKR 56.4
5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.78 PKR 2,716
$7.27 PKR 2,020
34.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 PKR 241
$0.68 PKR 190
27.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 PKR 90.1
$0.49 PKR 137
-34.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 PKR 826
$1.81 PKR 503
64.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 269
$0.88 PKR 245
10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K PKR 6.3M
$23.1K PKR 6.4M
-1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.5K
$136 PKR 37.8K
-24.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.03 PKR 1,118
$5.30 PKR 1,470
-23.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.21 PKR 4,500
$10.53 PKR 2,924
53.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.17 PKR 2,824
$12.50 PKR 3,471
-18.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.48 PKR 2,076
$6.07 PKR 1,687
23.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.59 PKR 997
$4.15 PKR 1,153
-13.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.91 PKR 11.4K
$10.78 PKR 2,993
279.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$955 PKR 265.1K
$1,070 PKR 297.1K
-10.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.81 PKR 3,279
$10.46 PKR 2,904
12.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.85 PKR 5,232
$22.51 PKR 6,251
-16.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 PKR 24.6K
$72.3 PKR 20.1K
22.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.57 PKR 7,933
$28.06 PKR 7,791
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$130 PKR 36.0K
$74.9 PKR 20.8K
73.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.8 PKR 18.3K
$51.1 PKR 14.2K
28.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$325 PKR 90.2K
$168 PKR 46.7K
93.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 PKR 47.8K
$104 PKR 29.0K
64.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,167 PKR 324.0K
$818 PKR 227.2K
42.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$520 PKR 144.3K
$491 PKR 136.2K
5.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 PKR 47.7K
-
-
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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Haroonabad: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $74.9 in Haroonabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $10.00 in Haroonabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $92.0 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 7% 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 and in Haroonabad?
You'd need roughly $637 in Rawalpindi and $679 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 compared to Haroonabad?
Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $74.9 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 in Haroonabad?
Childcare runs $40.91 in Rawalpindi versus $10.78 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 in Haroonabad?
Shoppers in Haroonabad pay roughly 3% 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 in 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 7% less than in Haroonabad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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