😐A single person spends $423 per month in Rawalpindi vs $377 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $670 per month in Rawalpindi vs $603 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $917 per month in Rawalpindi vs $830 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 12% 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
$1.75PKR 487
$1.69₹161
3.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.30PKR 3,985
$11.74₹1,114
21.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38PKR 1,501
$3.54₹336
51.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.63PKR 454
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 985
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 477
$1.22₹115
40.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.8
$0.36₹34.46
-13.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.3
$0.15₹13.94
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.46₹139
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.26₹215
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85PKR 238
$0.67₹63.5
26.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.45₹42.87
15.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29PKR 360
$0.54₹51.7
138.89%
Eggs
$1.18PKR 329
$0.88₹83.9
34.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18PKR 1,724
$4.93₹468
25.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.44PKR 959
$2.50₹237
37.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.46PKR 1,244
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.00PKR 280
$2.12₹201
-52.83%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 177
$0.64₹60.9
-
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86PKR 239
$1.13₹107
-23.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$0.57₹53.8
-15.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.44₹41.47
-18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.43₹40.97
13.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.3
$0.70₹66.2
-65.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.25₹23.46
44.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.92PKR 4,437
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 277
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30PKR 643
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94PKR 541
$4.53₹430
-57.17%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.31₹504
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.92₹183
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.65₹252
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.96₹376
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.8
$0.11₹10.86
63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.95PKR 2,774
$5.87₹557
69.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84PKR 234
$0.98₹92.7
-14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 98.2
$0.28₹26.80
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07PKR 856
$1.78₹169
72.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 271
$1.18₹112
-17.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$11.5K₹1.1M
53.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.5M
$19.7K₹1.9M
17.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.7K
$43.59₹4,139
135.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95PKR 1,101
$3.45₹328
14.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.31PKR 4,545
$6.25₹594
160.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.99PKR 2,784
$16.18₹1,536
-38.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52PKR 2,097
$5.92₹562
27.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64PKR 1,015
$2.94₹279
23.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$39.35₹3,736
1.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$953PKR 265.7K
$556₹52.8K
71.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.64PKR 3,246
$31.00₹2,943
-62.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.40PKR 5,131
$30.00₹2,849
-38.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8PKR 24.8K
$54.5₹5,177
62.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.47PKR 7,937
$43.22₹4,103
-34.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.2K
$98.7₹9,373
31.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.5PKR 18.0K
$72.9₹6,925
-11.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327PKR 91.2K
$279₹26.5K
17.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174PKR 48.5K
$170₹16.1K
2.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,159PKR 323.0K
$902₹85.7K
28.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$522PKR 145.4K
$683₹64.8K
-23.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Kozhikode
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$174PKR 48.4K
$187₹17.8K
-7.21%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kozhikode: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $98.7 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 8% 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 – $95.0 in Rawalpindi vs $99.0 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 Kozhikode compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi, $377 in Kozhikode – roughly 12% 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 $635 per month in Rawalpindi and $566 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 Kozhikode?
Public transport costs about 70% 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 $39.91 per month in Rawalpindi and $39.35 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 vs Kozhikode?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $423 in Rawalpindi and $377 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