😐A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $355 in Jammu, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $575 in Jammu, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $795 in Jammu, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 23% more than Jammu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Jammu are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi67% lower, Jammu73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$3.22₹311
-43.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.95PKR 3,873
$11.58₹1,117
20.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40PKR 1,499
$2.96₹286
82.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56PKR 433
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 980
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 474
$1.16₹112
47.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$0.36₹34.92
-13.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.18₹17.43
27.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.44₹139
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.63₹254
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.66₹63.9
30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.42₹40.03
26.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PKR 361
$0.72₹69.7
80.56%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 312
$0.97₹93.9
15.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,674
$3.98₹384
51.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKR 953
$2.38₹230
44.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.40PKR 1,221
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 280
$1.25₹120
-19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.93₹90.0
-25.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.92₹88.9
-7.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 129
$0.55₹52.9
-14.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.35₹33.46
-2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.52₹50.2
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.0
$0.69₹66.6
-65.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.33₹31.83
18.18%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.04PKR 4,454
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 274
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40PKR 666
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91PKR 531
$3.88₹375
-50.77%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.62₹735
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.47₹142
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.59₹250
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.74₹360
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.1
$0.28₹26.79
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.52PKR 2,645
$3.57₹345
166.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 240
$1.76₹170
-51.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 89.7
$0.30₹29.27
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92PKR 811
$2.34₹226
24.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 270
$1.20₹116
-19.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$17.4K₹1.7M
1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$27.7K₹2.7M
-17.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.8K
$31.68₹3,055
227.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04PKR 1,121
$3.69₹356
9.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.63PKR 4,618
$7.60₹733
118.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.97PKR 2,768
$16.07₹1,550
-37.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43PKR 2,062
$7.18₹692
3.48%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47PKR 964
$2.87₹276
20.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.20PKR 11.2K
$41.37₹3,990
-2.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$948PKR 263.3K
$1,220₹117.6K
-22.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90PKR 3,304
$27.11₹2,614
-56.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.45PKR 5,124
$32.25₹3,110
-42.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PKR 24.9K
$43.53₹4,198
105.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.00PKR 8,052
$25.98₹2,505
11.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 36.8K
$98.6₹9,506
34.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.1PKR 18.1K
$59.0₹5,694
10.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330PKR 91.6K
$249₹24.0K
32.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171PKR 47.4K
$181₹17.4K
-5.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,176PKR 326.5K
$997₹96.2K
17.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$518PKR 143.8K
$516₹49.7K
0.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Jammu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.5K
$491₹47.4K
-64.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
13.83
45.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Last update for Jammu: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $98.6 in Jammu. 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 181% higher in Jammu, 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 $12.00 in Jammu. Groceries tell a different story – $95.0 in Rawalpindi vs $96.0 in Jammu – so Rawalpindi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Jammu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jammu cheaper than Rawalpindi?
Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $532 in Jammu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jammu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Rawalpindi or in Jammu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $12.00 in Jammu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Rawalpindi and in Jammu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $437 in Rawalpindi and $355 in Jammu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Rawalpindi or Jammu?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rawalpindi and $355 in Jammu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Rawalpindi or Jammu more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jammu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rawalpindi or Jammu?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jammu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared