Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi is about 19% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rawalpindi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.80 PKR 779

-36.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$14.22 PKR 3,955

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-2.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.72 PKR 478

-10.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-15.00%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.00 PKR 557

-13.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.43 PKR 119

-25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.94 PKR 260

-15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.62 PKR 173

-8.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.21 PKR 338

1.65%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.20 PKR 335

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$6.07 PKR 1,689

0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$3.39 PKR 942

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$4.38 PKR 1,218

4.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.78 PKR 216

-14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.93 PKR 260

-1.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.60 PKR 166

-21.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.41 PKR 115

-19.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.54 PKR 149

-3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.37 PKR 103

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.93 PKR 537

751.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.90 PKR 251

15.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.99 PKR 552

21.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.14 PKR 596

-11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.19 PKR 52.2

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$6.90 PKR 1,921

43.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.86 PKR 238

5.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.44 PKR 122

-20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$2.81 PKR 782

5.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.91 PKR 253

5.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-16.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-12.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$100 PKR 28.0K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-10.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-26.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-11.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-54.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$6.04 PKR 1,679

26.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-14.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-34.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-65.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-45.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$27.63 PKR 7,686

-31.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-28.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-34.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-40.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-36.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-41.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-24.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-21.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-55.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

20.2

-0.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $198 in Islamabad. 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 127% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $98.0 – making Rawalpindi 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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Rawalpindi and $794 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Rawalpindi and $529 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Rawalpindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.