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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $504 per month in Rawalpindi vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Rawalpindi vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,069 per month in Rawalpindi vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi is about 14% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Rawalpindi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 63% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$3.57 PKR 990

-40.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,419

$22.74 PKR 6,309

-29.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,634

$5.47 PKR 1,517

7.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$3.55 PKR 986

-49.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 977

$6.71 PKR 1,862

-47.54%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 538

$2.39 PKR 663

-18.83%

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

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.32 PKR 90.0

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.22 PKR 60.8

13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.99 PKR 275

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.79 PKR 220

-30.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.28 PKR 354

-3.91%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.28 PKR 356

-13.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,710

$6.11 PKR 1,695

0.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.06 PKR 849

16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,447

$5.12 PKR 1,421

1.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.34 PKR 371

-14.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.84 PKR 232

2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.02 PKR 282

20.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.49 PKR 135

16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.4

$0.29 PKR 81.2

24.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.33 PKR 90.4

39.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.29 PKR 80.8

13.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.38 PKR 106

5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,518

$1.90 PKR 528

756.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.38 PKR 383

-13.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 682

$2.35 PKR 652

4.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.28 PKR 632

-15.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.65

$0.16 PKR 44.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,808

$21.23 PKR 5,889

-52.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 254

$1.27 PKR 353

-28.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.69 PKR 191

-44.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 877

$1.65 PKR 459

91.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$1.32 PKR 365

-14.39%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-66.21%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-0.52%

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

$115 PKR 31.9K

$102 PKR 28.3K

12.62%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,523

$5.83 PKR 1,618

-5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,178

$16.34 PKR 4,534

14.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,363

$29.09 PKR 8,071

-58.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,873

$8.93 PKR 2,478

-24.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,188

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-14.57%

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

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-35.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 234.1K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-83.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,784

$23.55 PKR 6,532

-11.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,775

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-14.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

8.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-7.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.7K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-26.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.8K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-43.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.6K

$577 PKR 160.1K

-24.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$266 PKR 73.9K

-15.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 323.0K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

-28.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.1K

$829 PKR 230.1K

-38.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-54.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

13.08

74.39%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Rawalpindi versus $277 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 118% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $103 – 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 17%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $756 per month in Rawalpindi and $884 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 0% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi and $23.00 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 $504 in Rawalpindi and $589 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.