😐A single person spends $504 per month in Rawalpindi vs $415 in Layyah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $786 per month in Rawalpindi vs $641 in Layyah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,069 per month in Rawalpindi vs $866 in Layyah, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 21% more than Layyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Layyah are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi63% lower, Layyah70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.12PKR 588
$1.82PKR 505
16.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.93PKR 4,419
$10.95PKR 3,039
45.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89PKR 1,634
$5.42PKR 1,502
8.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 502
$2.58PKR 717
-29.84%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52PKR 977
$2.19PKR 606
60.73%
Cappuccino
$1.94PKR 538
$1.45PKR 402
33.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.43PKR 119
2.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.32PKR 89.1
-21.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 250
$0.84PKR 234
7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$0.65PKR 180
-15.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 342
$1.22PKR 337
0.82%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 307
$1.24PKR 345
-10.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.16PKR 1,710
$8.63PKR 2,395
-28.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57PKR 989
$2.65PKR 734
34.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.22PKR 1,447
$3.89PKR 1,079
34.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14PKR 316
$1.04PKR 289
9.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86PKR 237
$0.63PKR 174
36.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$0.57PKR 159
115.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.50PKR 139
14.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.4
$0.29PKR 80.1
24.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46PKR 127
$0.53PKR 147
-13.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.2
$0.49PKR 137
-32.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.40PKR 110
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.28PKR 4,518
$0.57PKR 157
2756.14%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20PKR 332
$0.56PKR 155
114.29%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46PKR 682
$0.70PKR 193
251.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93PKR 535
$2.36PKR 655
-18.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.65
$0.21PKR 57.3
-23.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12PKR 2,808
$10.52PKR 2,918
-3.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 254
$1.10PKR 306
-17.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 104
$1.09PKR 303
-65.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16PKR 877
$2.83PKR 786
11.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13PKR 312
$1.15PKR 320
-1.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
$23.2KPKR 6.4M
-21.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
8.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115PKR 31.9K
$66.7PKR 18.5K
72.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49PKR 1,523
$5.43PKR 1,507
1.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67PKR 5,178
$11.91PKR 3,303
56.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.12PKR 3,363
$15.43PKR 4,280
-21.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.75PKR 1,873
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28PKR 1,188
$7.30PKR 2,025
-41.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.47PKR 13.4K
$26.60PKR 7,379
82.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$844PKR 234.1K
$2,050PKR 568.6K
-58.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85PKR 5,784
$18.78PKR 5,211
11.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.03PKR 7,775
$26.13PKR 7,249
7.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0PKR 25.2K
$53.6PKR 14.9K
69.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.28PKR 10.1K
$29.20PKR 8,100
24.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204PKR 56.7K
$126PKR 34.9K
62.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.0PKR 22.8K
$68.2PKR 18.9K
20.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438PKR 121.6K
$268PKR 74.4K
63.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225PKR 62.5K
$165PKR 45.9K
36.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,164PKR 323.0K
$897PKR 248.7K
29.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512PKR 142.1K
$469PKR 130.1K
9.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Layyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
11.83
92.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Last update for Layyah: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Rawalpindi versus $126 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Layyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $98.0 – 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 21%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $756 per month in Rawalpindi and $622 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 $16.00 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 $504 in Rawalpindi and $415 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 $504 in Rawalpindi and $415 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