🙂A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $459 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $699 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $939 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂Rawalpindi is about 5% cheaper than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi67% lower, Hyderabad66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$1.82PKR 504
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.95PKR 3,873
$10.42PKR 2,894
33.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40PKR 1,499
$4.05PKR 1,124
33.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56PKR 433
$2.00PKR 556
-22.00%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 980
$5.26PKR 1,462
-32.89%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 474
$0.93PKR 259
83.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$0.34PKR 94.1
-8.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.23PKR 64.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.73PKR 203
17.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.50PKR 139
6.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PKR 361
$1.16PKR 323
12.07%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 312
$1.11PKR 308
0.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,674
$6.05PKR 1,681
-0.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKR 953
$2.71PKR 752
26.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.40PKR 1,221
$4.18PKR 1,161
5.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 280
$1.08PKR 301
-6.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.55PKR 152
25.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.87PKR 241
-2.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 129
$0.52PKR 144
-9.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.36PKR 98.7
-5.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.51PKR 140
1.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.0
$0.39PKR 107
-38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.44PKR 122
-11.36%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.04PKR 4,454
$0.88PKR 245
1722.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 274
$1.25PKR 348
-20.80%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40PKR 666
$2.09PKR 580
14.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91PKR 531
$2.17PKR 603
-11.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.1
$0.15PKR 42.60
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.52PKR 2,645
$9.50PKR 2,638
0.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 240
$0.65PKR 180
32.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 89.7
$0.20PKR 55.1
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92PKR 811
$0.72PKR 200
305.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 270
$0.88PKR 244
10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$16.9KPKR 4.7M
4.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
-0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.8K
$135PKR 37.4K
-23.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04PKR 1,121
$4.61PKR 1,280
-12.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.63PKR 4,618
$13.27PKR 3,686
25.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.97PKR 2,768
$20.84PKR 5,787
-52.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43PKR 2,062
$3.45PKR 959
115.36%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47PKR 964
$3.51PKR 976
-1.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.20PKR 11.2K
$41.17PKR 11.4K
-2.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$948PKR 263.3K
$1,109PKR 307.9K
-14.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90PKR 3,304
$17.58PKR 4,880
-32.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.45PKR 5,124
$25.02PKR 6,947
-26.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PKR 24.9K
$64.6PKR 17.9K
38.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.00PKR 8,052
$36.40PKR 10.1K
-20.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 36.8K
$118PKR 32.8K
12.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.1PKR 18.1K
$68.0PKR 18.9K
-4.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330PKR 91.6K
$294PKR 81.7K
12.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171PKR 47.4K
$194PKR 54.0K
-12.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,176PKR 326.5K
$590PKR 163.7K
99.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$518PKR 143.8K
$196PKR 54.4K
164.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.5K
$174PKR 48.4K
0.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
15
34.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Last update for Hyderabad: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $118 in Hyderabad. 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 0% higher in Rawalpindi, 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 $10.00 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $89.0 – making Hyderabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Hyderabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Hyderabad?
Hyderabad costs about 5% more than Rawalpindi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rawalpindi and in Hyderabad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $688 in Hyderabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rawalpindi or Hyderabad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rawalpindi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Hyderabad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $10.00 in Hyderabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Rawalpindi compared to Hyderabad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $437 in Rawalpindi and $459 in Hyderabad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Rawalpindi or in Hyderabad?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rawalpindi and $459 in Hyderabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Rawalpindi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Rawalpindi compared to Hyderabad?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Rawalpindi or to Hyderabad?
If budget matters most, go with Rawalpindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hyderabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared