😐A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $332 in Layyah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $511 in Layyah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $690 in Layyah, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 32% more than Layyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Layyah are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi67% lower, Layyah75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$1.82PKR 505
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.95PKR 3,873
$10.69PKR 2,968
30.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40PKR 1,499
$3.49PKR 968
54.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56PKR 433
$2.80PKR 778
-44.29%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 980
$4.75PKR 1,320
-25.68%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 474
$1.52PKR 423
12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$0.31PKR 85.3
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.22PKR 61.0
4.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.48PKR 133
79.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.34PKR 93.7
55.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PKR 361
$1.21PKR 336
7.44%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 312
$1.08PKR 300
3.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,674
$5.91PKR 1,641
2.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKR 953
$2.36PKR 655
45.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.40PKR 1,221
$3.03PKR 841
45.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 280
$0.69PKR 191
46.38%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.34PKR 94.3
102.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.67PKR 186
26.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 129
$0.49PKR 136
-4.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.35PKR 96.8
-2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.55PKR 151
-5.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.0
$0.59PKR 164
-59.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.34PKR 93.6
14.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.04PKR 4,454
$1.01PKR 279
1488.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 274
$0.74PKR 206
33.78%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40PKR 666
$2.02PKR 561
18.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91PKR 531
$1.90PKR 528
0.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.1
$0.17PKR 47.42
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.52PKR 2,645
$6.91PKR 1,918
37.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 240
$1.09PKR 303
-21.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 89.7
$0.40PKR 111
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92PKR 811
$1.82PKR 506
60.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 270
$0.97PKR 269
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
-20.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$21.4KPKR 5.9M
6.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.8K
$58.9PKR 16.3K
76.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04PKR 1,121
$3.65PKR 1,012
10.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.63PKR 4,618
$12.69PKR 3,524
31.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.97PKR 2,768
$12.44PKR 3,453
-19.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43PKR 2,062
$6.00PKR 1,667
23.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47PKR 964
$3.46PKR 961
0.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.20PKR 11.2K
$17.34PKR 4,814
131.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$948PKR 263.3K
$532PKR 147.7K
78.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90PKR 3,304
$16.46PKR 4,570
-27.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.45PKR 5,124
$22.37PKR 6,211
-17.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PKR 24.9K
$59.6PKR 16.6K
50.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.00PKR 8,052
$25.89PKR 7,188
12.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 36.8K
$75.7PKR 21.0K
75.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.1PKR 18.1K
$51.6PKR 14.3K
26.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330PKR 91.6K
$170PKR 47.1K
94.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171PKR 47.4K
$107PKR 29.7K
59.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,176PKR 326.5K
$777PKR 215.7K
51.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$518PKR 143.8K
$455PKR 126.2K
13.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
18
12.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Last update for Layyah: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $75.7 in Layyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Layyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $75.0 – making Layyah 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 Layyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Layyah cheaper than Rawalpindi?
Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $497 in Layyah. 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 Layyah, 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 Layyah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $11.00 in Layyah. 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 Layyah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $437 in Rawalpindi and $332 in Layyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Rawalpindi or Layyah?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rawalpindi and $332 in Layyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Rawalpindi or Layyah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Layyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Layyah. 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