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

🙂 Solo nomad: Rawalpindi is 17.2% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 20.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rawalpindi is 12.5% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 22.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80 PKR 502
$2.76 PKR 771
-34.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.33 PKR 3,997
$14.25 PKR 3,975
0.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.25 PKR 1,464
$5.32 PKR 1,485
-1.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 PKR 431
$1.73 PKR 482
-10.98%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 PKR 956
$3.98 PKR 1,109
-13.82%
Cappuccino
$1.63 PKR 455
$2.08 PKR 581
-21.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 88.3
$0.42 PKR 118
-23.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.6
$0.24 PKR 67.2
-12.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 PKR 224
$0.97 PKR 269
-17.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 156
$0.66 PKR 185
-15.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PKR 358
$1.26 PKR 352
1.59%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 326
$1.27 PKR 355
-7.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.27 PKR 1,749
$6.02 PKR 1,680
4.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 PKR 908
$3.43 PKR 958
-4.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.39 PKR 1,226
$4.40 PKR 1,227
-0.23%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 PKR 262
$1.00 PKR 279
-6.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 PKR 192
$0.85 PKR 236
-18.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 237
$0.90 PKR 251
-5.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 130
$0.57 PKR 158
-17.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 PKR 102
$0.38 PKR 106
-2.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 143
$0.57 PKR 160
-10.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 PKR 73.1
$0.33 PKR 93.0
-21.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.37 PKR 104
-2.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.97 PKR 4,456
$1.91 PKR 534
736.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 PKR 286
$0.91 PKR 255
13.19%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 PKR 642
$2.03 PKR 566
13.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 PKR 537
$2.06 PKR 576
-6.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53.0
$0.18 PKR 50.4
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.85 PKR 2,749
$6.90 PKR 1,924
42.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 PKR 235
$0.91 PKR 253
-7.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 PKR 92.0
$0.40 PKR 112
-17.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 PKR 834
$2.87 PKR 801
4.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 PKR 263
$0.92 PKR 258
2.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K PKR 5.0M
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
-14.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
-13.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.9K
$111 PKR 31.1K
-7.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18 PKR 1,166
$5.57 PKR 1,555
-24.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.52 PKR 4,609
$18.70 PKR 5,217
-11.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.86 PKR 2,750
$22.29 PKR 6,219
-55.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.47 PKR 2,085
$5.86 PKR 1,634
27.47%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60 PKR 1,005
$4.30 PKR 1,200
-16.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.92 PKR 11.4K
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
-32.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$965 PKR 269.3K
$2,738 PKR 763.9K
-64.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.87 PKR 3,312
$21.38 PKR 5,964
-44.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.81 PKR 5,246
$28.45 PKR 7,935
-33.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 PKR 24.2K
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
-2.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.11 PKR 7,840
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
-30.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$131 PKR 36.5K
$197 PKR 55.0K
-33.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$64.9 PKR 18.1K
$111 PKR 31.1K
-41.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 PKR 93.0K
$505 PKR 140.8K
-33.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 PKR 48.2K
$292 PKR 81.6K
-40.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,171 PKR 326.8K
$1,535 PKR 428.1K
-23.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$517 PKR 144.2K
$752 PKR 209.7K
-31.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 PKR 48.0K
$304 PKR 84.7K
-43.37%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities