🙂A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $459 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $685 in Hyderabad, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $911 in Hyderabad, rent included.
🙂Rawalpindi is about 7% cheaper than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi68% lower, Hyderabad66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78PKR 496
$1.79PKR 498
-0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,957
$10.75PKR 2,991
32.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29PKR 1,470
$4.16PKR 1,158
27.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54PKR 429
$1.89PKR 527
-18.52%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40PKR 947
$5.46PKR 1,518
-37.73%
Cappuccino
$1.73PKR 481
$0.95PKR 264
82.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 88.9
$0.34PKR 94.1
-5.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.23PKR 64.3
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79PKR 219
$0.72PKR 201
9.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.53PKR 148
7.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 343
$1.16PKR 323
6.03%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 311
$1.15PKR 321
-2.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09PKR 1,693
$6.11PKR 1,700
-0.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 944
$2.75PKR 765
23.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57PKR 1,271
$4.00PKR 1,111
14.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$1.09PKR 303
-6.42%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.58PKR 162
15.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92PKR 257
$0.85PKR 237
8.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 132
$0.56PKR 155
-16.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 93.2
$0.36PKR 98.9
-8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.48PKR 133
8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26PKR 72.7
$0.38PKR 106
-31.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.41PKR 114
-9.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.44PKR 4,573
$0.91PKR 254
1706.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04PKR 288
$1.26PKR 351
-17.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41PKR 669
$2.12PKR 588
13.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 528
$2.17PKR 603
-12.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.36
$0.18PKR 50.3
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.89PKR 2,751
$9.84PKR 2,737
0.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.65PKR 181
40.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 97.5
$0.19PKR 52.4
84.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97PKR 826
$0.69PKR 192
330.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 267
$0.87PKR 243
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
$16.6KPKR 4.6M
8.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
-1.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100PKR 28.0K
$135PKR 37.5K
-25.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99PKR 1,111
$4.64PKR 1,292
-14.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.64PKR 4,630
$13.73PKR 3,820
21.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.14PKR 2,821
$20.28PKR 5,641
-50.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67PKR 2,134
$3.59PKR 997
113.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60PKR 1,003
$3.43PKR 955
4.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.75PKR 11.1K
$41.18PKR 11.5K
-3.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$962PKR 267.6K
$1,094PKR 304.4K
-12.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.80PKR 3,282
$17.79PKR 4,948
-33.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.84PKR 5,242
$24.99PKR 6,951
-24.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8PKR 24.4K
$64.4PKR 17.9K
36.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.38PKR 7,896
$36.32PKR 10.1K
-21.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.1K
$119PKR 33.2K
8.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.4PKR 18.5K
$68.1PKR 18.9K
-2.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324PKR 90.1K
$296PKR 82.3K
9.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173PKR 48.1K
$198PKR 55.2K
-12.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,173PKR 326.4K
$580PKR 161.4K
102.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$516PKR 143.5K
$195PKR 54.2K
165.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Hyderabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171PKR 47.6K
$171PKR 47.5K
0.23%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Hyderabad: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $119 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 $11.00 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 7% 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 vs Hyderabad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 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 vs Hyderabad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $11.00 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 $429 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 Hyderabad?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 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 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