😐A single person spends $431 per month in Rawalpindi vs $375 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $665 per month in Rawalpindi vs $598 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $899 per month in Rawalpindi vs $821 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 15% more than Kozhikode, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Kozhikode are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi68% lower, Kozhikode72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79PKR 497
$1.70₹163
5.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.27PKR 3,959
$11.67₹1,117
22.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.26PKR 1,460
$3.57₹341
47.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.60PKR 445
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42PKR 950
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.66PKR 460
$1.27₹121
30.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 95.5
$0.39₹37.37
-12.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.0
$0.15₹14.24
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.47₹141
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38₹228
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79PKR 219
$0.66₹63.4
19.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 156
$0.48₹46.26
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PKR 361
$0.53₹51.1
145.28%
Eggs
$1.14PKR 316
$0.89₹85.3
28.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.98PKR 1,660
$5.11₹489
17.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26PKR 906
$2.51₹240
29.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.47PKR 1,240
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$2.10₹201
-51.43%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63PKR 175
$0.65₹62.6
-3.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.84PKR 233
$1.07₹103
-21.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50PKR 139
$0.52₹49.99
-3.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.44₹41.73
-15.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.40₹38.37
30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26PKR 72.8
$0.66₹63.5
-60.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.25₹23.81
60.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.96PKR 4,429
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02PKR 284
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37PKR 658
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92PKR 533
$4.53₹433
-57.62%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.17₹494
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.02₹194
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61₹250
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.98₹381
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.6
$0.12₹11.17
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.59PKR 2,663
$5.89₹564
62.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85PKR 235
$0.94₹90.1
-9.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 90.0
$0.26₹24.84
23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09PKR 858
$1.76₹168
75.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 264
$1.23₹118
-22.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5KPKR 4.9M
$11.8K₹1.1M
48.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KPKR 6.4M
$19.8K₹1.9M
15.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101PKR 28.0K
$43.43₹4,155
131.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96PKR 1,100
$3.43₹328
15.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.35PKR 4,537
$6.33₹605
158.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.86PKR 2,736
$16.52₹1,581
-40.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.42PKR 2,060
$6.07₹581
22.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.57PKR 990
$2.90₹277
23.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.97PKR 11.4K
$39.48₹3,777
3.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$963PKR 267.2K
$571₹54.7K
68.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.74PKR 3,258
$30.81₹2,948
-61.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.96PKR 5,263
$29.88₹2,859
-36.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7PKR 24.9K
$55.7₹5,332
60.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.12PKR 8,081
$42.39₹4,056
-31.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 36.9K
$95.0₹9,093
40.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.5PKR 18.5K
$72.5₹6,935
-8.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$334PKR 92.8K
$279₹26.7K
19.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173PKR 48.1K
$169₹16.2K
2.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,133PKR 314.6K
$898₹85.9K
26.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$510PKR 141.6K
$668₹64.0K
-23.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$176PKR 48.7K
$253₹24.2K
-30.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
7.62
164.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 26, 2026
Last update for Kozhikode: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $95.0 in Kozhikode. 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 44% higher in Kozhikode, 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 Kozhikode. Groceries tell a different story – $94.0 in Rawalpindi vs $100 in Kozhikode – 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 Kozhikode: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rawalpindi and in Kozhikode compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $431 in Rawalpindi, $375 in Kozhikode – roughly 15% apart. Rawalpindi costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Rawalpindi compared to Kozhikode?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $646 per month in Rawalpindi and $563 in Kozhikode. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rawalpindi and Kozhikode?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kozhikode, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Kozhikode?
Public transport costs about 63% less in Kozhikode. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rawalpindi and Kozhikode?
Kindergarten costs $40.97 per month in Rawalpindi and $39.48 in Kozhikode. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Rawalpindi compared to Kozhikode?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $431 in Rawalpindi and $375 in Kozhikode, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Rawalpindi or Kozhikode?
Families tend to lean toward Kozhikode – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Rawalpindi or Kozhikode safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Rawalpindi and Kozhikode?
If budget matters most, go with Kozhikode. 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