😐A single person spends $495 per month in Rawalpindi vs $399 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $781 per month in Rawalpindi vs $610 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,067 per month in Rawalpindi vs $821 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 24% more than Kozhikode, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Kozhikode are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi64% lower, Kozhikode71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05PKR 569
$1.60₹154
28.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.07PKR 4,452
$9.21₹883
74.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.84PKR 1,617
$3.18₹305
83.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76PKR 487
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50PKR 971
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.98PKR 549
$1.37₹132
44.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 121
$0.36₹34.72
22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.12₹11.12
108.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.43₹137
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.85₹178
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 251
$0.60₹57.5
51.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.46₹43.78
17.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$0.49₹47.34
151.02%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 308
$0.80₹76.8
38.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.32PKR 1,752
$3.55₹341
78.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57PKR 990
$3.57₹343
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.05PKR 1,398
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.20PKR 331
$2.05₹196
-41.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84PKR 232
$0.61₹58.1
37.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.22PKR 338
$0.88₹84.8
38.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.49₹46.78
8.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.5
$0.35₹33.43
2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45PKR 124
$0.40₹38.82
12.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31PKR 84.9
$0.58₹55.9
-46.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 118
$0.27₹25.98
59.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.09PKR 4,458
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14PKR 316
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37PKR 657
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93PKR 535
$5.12₹492
-62.30%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.29₹507
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.99₹191
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.17₹208
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.44₹330
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.5
$0.16₹15.16
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.99PKR 2,767
$5.32₹510
87.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93PKR 258
$0.79₹75.9
17.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 96.1
$0.46₹44.12
-23.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.11PKR 861
$2.06₹197
50.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13PKR 313
$1.09₹105
3.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
$13.2K₹1.3M
35.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KPKR 6.7M
$19.6K₹1.9M
22.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113PKR 31.2K
$55.3₹5,301
104.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.55PKR 1,537
$2.97₹285
86.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.88PKR 5,229
$6.01₹577
214.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.11PKR 3,354
$19.87₹1,906
-39.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.81PKR 1,886
$6.23₹598
9.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26PKR 1,179
$2.59₹248
64.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.70PKR 13.5K
$44.97₹4,315
8.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$833PKR 230.8K
$504₹48.3K
65.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.41PKR 5,653
$27.99₹2,685
-27.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.85PKR 7,993
$27.69₹2,657
4.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7PKR 26.0K
$69.6₹6,679
34.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.19PKR 10.0K
$36.92₹3,542
-1.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201PKR 55.6K
$112₹10.8K
78.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$83.0PKR 23.0K
$76.4₹7,331
8.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428PKR 118.6K
$311₹29.8K
37.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226PKR 62.6K
$162₹15.6K
39.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,170PKR 324.1K
$894₹85.8K
30.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$507PKR 140.5K
$685₹65.7K
-25.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173PKR 48.0K
$287₹27.6K
-39.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
9.37
143.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kozhikode: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Rawalpindi versus $112 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 66% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $9.00 in Kozhikode. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $96.0 – making Kozhikode 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 Kozhikode: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rawalpindi and in Kozhikode compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $495 in Rawalpindi, $399 in Kozhikode – roughly 24% 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 $742 per month in Rawalpindi and $599 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 88% 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 $48.70 per month in Rawalpindi and $44.97 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 $495 in Rawalpindi and $399 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