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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi is about 18% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Rawalpindi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 67% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.85 PKR 791

-36.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-2.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-0.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.72 PKR 477

-9.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-7.59%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.97 PKR 547

-13.20%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.40 PKR 110

-22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.96 PKR 268

-10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.66 PKR 183

-19.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.28 PKR 355

1.56%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.20 PKR 334

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$3.37 PKR 937

1.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.35 PKR 1,209

1.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.04 PKR 289

-2.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.84 PKR 234

-17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.91 PKR 253

-6.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.56 PKR 156

-16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.41 PKR 115

-17.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.57 PKR 158

-8.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.31 PKR 85.4

-22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.41 PKR 113

-4.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$2.00 PKR 555

702.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.93 PKR 258

6.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$2.04 PKR 567

17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$2.14 PKR 595

-10.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.17 PKR 46.51

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$7.22 PKR 2,005

31.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.85 PKR 236

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.43 PKR 120

-25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$2.79 PKR 775

4.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.98 PKR 271

-1.02%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-15.58%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-12.21%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-8.80%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-25.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-11.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-54.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$6.12 PKR 1,698

21.41%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-16.18%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-33.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-65.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-43.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-33.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

1.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-29.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-33.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-40.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-34.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-42.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-22.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-20.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-54.65%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $199 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 120% 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 $100 – 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 22%, 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 $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $801 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 5% 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 $437 in Rawalpindi and $534 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.