Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Kakinada Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Kakinada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $360 in Kakinada, rent included.

A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $578 in Kakinada, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $796 in Kakinada, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 22% more than Kakinada, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rawalpindi and Kakinada are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 67% lower, Kakinada 73% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82 PKR 505
$1.71 ₹165
6.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.95 PKR 3,873
$11.57 ₹1,114
20.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 PKR 1,499
$4.26 ₹410
26.76%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 PKR 433
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PKR 980
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.71 PKR 474
$3.72 ₹358
-54.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 PKR 87.1
$0.49 ₹47.12
-36.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 63.9
$0.17 ₹16.71
35.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.42 ₹137
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.29 ₹220
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 PKR 239
$0.66 ₹63.4
30.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 PKR 146
$0.52 ₹49.68
1.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 PKR 361
$0.59 ₹57.2
120.34%
Eggs
$1.12 PKR 312
$0.81 ₹77.5
38.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.03 PKR 1,674
$4.43 ₹427
36.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 PKR 954
$2.86 ₹275
19.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 PKR 1,221
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.01 PKR 280
$2.16 ₹208
-53.24%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 PKR 191
$0.81 ₹77.9
-14.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.94 ₹90.7
-9.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 129
$0.46 ₹43.82
2.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.34 PKR 94.1
$0.40 ₹38.76
-15.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 145
$0.36 ₹34.53
44.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 PKR 66.0
$0.63 ₹60.7
-61.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 109
$0.36 ₹34.89
8.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$16.04 PKR 4,454
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 PKR 274
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 PKR 666
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91 PKR 532
$3.95 ₹380
-51.65%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.21 ₹694
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.52 ₹242
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.29 ₹316
-
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.40 ₹423
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 56.1
$0.34 ₹32.33
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.52 PKR 2,645
$8.68 ₹836
9.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 PKR 240
$1.38 ₹133
-37.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 PKR 89.7
$0.23 ₹22.16
39.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 PKR 811
$2.30 ₹221
26.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 270
$1.24 ₹119
-21.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
$17.5K ₹1.7M
0.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
$23.4K ₹2.3M
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 PKR 28.8K
$27.63 ₹2,660
275.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04 PKR 1,121
$2.67 ₹257
51.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.63 PKR 4,618
$5.86 ₹564
183.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.97 PKR 2,768
$15.74 ₹1,515
-36.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43 PKR 2,062
$7.11 ₹685
4.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47 PKR 964
$2.38 ₹229
45.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.20 PKR 11.2K
$30.93 ₹2,977
29.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$948 PKR 263.3K
$1,383 ₹133.1K
-31.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90 PKR 3,304
$10.44 ₹1,005
13.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.45 PKR 5,124
$8.62 ₹830
114.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 PKR 24.9K
$17.28 ₹1,663
417.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.00 PKR 8,053
$14.65 ₹1,410
97.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 PKR 36.8K
$79.8 ₹7,685
66.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 PKR 18.1K
$76.5 ₹7,361
-14.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$330 PKR 91.6K
$188 ₹18.1K
75.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 PKR 47.4K
$179 ₹17.2K
-4.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,176 PKR 326.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$518 PKR 143.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Kakinada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$175 PKR 48.5K
$524 ₹50.5K
-66.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.17
9
124.11%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kakinada: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $79.8 in Kakinada. 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 200% higher in Kakinada, 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 Kakinada. Groceries tell a different story – $95.0 in Rawalpindi vs $109 in Kakinada – 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 Kakinada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Kakinada?
Rawalpindi costs about 22% more than Kakinada, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rawalpindi and in Kakinada?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $539 in Kakinada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rawalpindi or Kakinada?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kakinada, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Kakinada?
Kindergarten costs $40.20 per month in Rawalpindi and $30.93 in Kakinada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Rawalpindi or in Kakinada?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Rawalpindi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Rawalpindi or in Kakinada?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rawalpindi and $360 in Kakinada, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kakinada – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Rawalpindi compared to Kakinada?
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.
Should I move to Rawalpindi or to Kakinada?
If budget matters most, go with Kakinada. 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.

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