🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 78% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Rawalpindi is 63% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.12PKR 588
$17.30€14.87
-87.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.93PKR 4,419
$63.3€54.4
-74.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89PKR 1,634
$11.39€9.79
-48.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 502
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52PKR 977
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.94PKR 538
$3.19€2.74
-39.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 122
$2.45€2.10
-82.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$1.76€1.52
-85.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.59€3.09
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.39€2.92
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 250
$1.24€1.06
-27.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.98€1.71
-72.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 342
$1.52€1.31
-19.08%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 307
$4.04€3.47
-72.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.16PKR 1,710
$13.54€11.64
-54.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57PKR 989
$8.39€7.21
-57.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.22PKR 1,447
$18.25€15.69
-71.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14PKR 316
$2.29€1.97
-50.22%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86PKR 237
$1.74€1.50
-50.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$1.86€1.60
-33.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$2.63€2.26
-78.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.4
$1.92€1.65
-81.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46PKR 127
$2.09€1.80
-77.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.2
$1.44€1.24
-77.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.84€0.72
-52.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.28PKR 4,518
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20PKR 332
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46PKR 682
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93PKR 535
$6.78€5.83
-71.53%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.71€4.91
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.38€1.18
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.22€1.91
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.65
$2.40€2.06
-93.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12PKR 2,808
$46.78€40.22
-78.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 254
$4.17€3.59
-78.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 104
$1.14€0.98
-66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16PKR 877
$17.68€15.20
-82.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13PKR 312
$2.32€2.00
-51.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
$35.3K€30.4K
-48.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
$41.4K€35.6K
-39.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115PKR 31.9K
$170€146
-32.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49PKR 1,523
$19.34€16.62
-71.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67PKR 5,178
$33.64€28.92
-44.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.12PKR 3,363
$48.10€41.35
-74.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.75PKR 1,873
$19.90€17.11
-66.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28PKR 1,188
$9.92€8.53
-56.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.47PKR 13.4K
$717€617
-93.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$844PKR 234.1K
$17.5K€15.0K
-95.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85PKR 5,784
$105€90.1
-80.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.03PKR 7,775
$46.95€40.36
-40.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0PKR 25.2K
$103€88.9
-12.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.28PKR 10.1K
$124€107
-70.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204PKR 56.7K
$1,677€1,441
-87.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.0PKR 22.8K
$1,271€1,093
-93.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438PKR 121.6K
$2,985€2,566
-85.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225PKR 62.5K
$1,992€1,713
-88.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,164PKR 323.0K
$7,826€6,728
-85.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512PKR 142.1K
$4,658€4,004
-89.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.4K
$1,583€1,361
-88.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
3.79
501.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Rawalpindi and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 806% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $283 per month, with Rawalpindi cheaper across the board.
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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rawalpindi and in Lisbon?
Rawalpindi and Lisbon differ by about 360% in total monthly costs ($504 vs $2,316 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 806% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Rawalpindi and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $204 in Rawalpindi versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rawalpindi and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $48.47 in Rawalpindi versus $717 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 176% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $504 in Rawalpindi versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rawalpindi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rawalpindi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rawalpindi and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Rawalpindi or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rawalpindi and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Rawalpindi or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 360% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared