🙂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: Rawalpindi68% lower, Haroonabad66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73PKR 481
$2.15PKR 597
-19.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.24PKR 3,953
$10.42PKR 2,893
36.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16PKR 1,433
$4.21PKR 1,170
22.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55PKR 431
$2.79PKR 776
-44.44%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40PKR 943
$3.74PKR 1,038
-9.09%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 476
$2.29PKR 635
-25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 95.2
$0.33PKR 91.0
3.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.23PKR 64.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.95PKR 265
-9.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.61PKR 170
-14.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29PKR 359
$1.17PKR 325
10.26%
Eggs
$1.16PKR 323
$1.20PKR 333
-3.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.23PKR 1,731
$6.15PKR 1,708
1.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.32PKR 921
$2.45PKR 680
35.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.52PKR 1,254
$4.49PKR 1,248
0.67%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94PKR 261
$1.05PKR 292
-10.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 177
$0.65PKR 180
-1.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92PKR 254
$0.61PKR 169
50.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50PKR 139
$0.48PKR 133
4.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.35PKR 97.5
2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.48PKR 132
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26PKR 72.6
$0.48PKR 133
-45.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.37PKR 101
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.39PKR 4,552
$1.07PKR 296
1431.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02PKR 284
$0.55PKR 154
85.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28PKR 633
$1.06PKR 294
115.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98PKR 550
$1.89PKR 526
4.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21PKR 57.1
$0.20PKR 56.4
5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.78PKR 2,716
$7.27PKR 2,020
34.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87PKR 241
$0.68PKR 190
27.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 90.1
$0.49PKR 137
-34.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97PKR 826
$1.81PKR 503
64.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 269
$0.88PKR 245
10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KPKR 6.3M
$23.1KPKR 6.4M
-1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.5K
$136PKR 37.8K
-24.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.03PKR 1,118
$5.30PKR 1,470
-23.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.21PKR 4,500
$10.53PKR 2,924
53.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.17PKR 2,824
$12.50PKR 3,471
-18.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.48PKR 2,076
$6.07PKR 1,687
23.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.59PKR 997
$4.15PKR 1,153
-13.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.91PKR 11.4K
$10.78PKR 2,993
279.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$955PKR 265.1K
$1,070PKR 297.1K
-10.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.81PKR 3,279
$10.46PKR 2,904
12.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.85PKR 5,232
$22.51PKR 6,251
-16.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5PKR 24.6K
$72.3PKR 20.1K
22.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.57PKR 7,933
$28.06PKR 7,791
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.0K
$74.9PKR 20.8K
73.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.8PKR 18.3K
$51.1PKR 14.2K
28.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$325PKR 90.2K
$168PKR 46.7K
93.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172PKR 47.8K
$104PKR 29.0K
64.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,167PKR 324.0K
$818PKR 227.2K
42.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$520PKR 144.3K
$491PKR 136.2K
5.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Haroonabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$172PKR 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.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared