😐A single person spends $503 per month in Rawalpindi vs $410 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $776 per month in Rawalpindi vs $609 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,050 per month in Rawalpindi vs $808 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 23% more than Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Mandi Bahauddin are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi64% lower, Mandi Bahauddin70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 580
$1.81PKR 502
15.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.42PKR 4,548
$8.98PKR 2,489
82.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.81PKR 1,611
$4.30PKR 1,192
35.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84PKR 511
$2.48PKR 687
-25.81%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48PKR 963
$2.21PKR 611
57.47%
Cappuccino
$1.92PKR 532
$1.05PKR 291
82.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.41PKR 114
-2.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.24PKR 66.2
4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.70PKR 195
22.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59PKR 163
$0.41PKR 113
43.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20PKR 333
$1.21PKR 336
-0.83%
Eggs
$1.15PKR 318
$1.20PKR 332
-4.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.21PKR 1,721
$8.81PKR 2,440
-29.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.47PKR 962
$2.60PKR 721
33.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.18PKR 1,436
$3.88PKR 1,076
33.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19PKR 329
$1.09PKR 302
9.17%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.66PKR 182
28.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27PKR 352
$0.57PKR 159
122.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.48PKR 133
18.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKR 107
$0.31PKR 86.8
22.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 135
$0.49PKR 135
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.3
$0.50PKR 138
-34.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$0.40PKR 110
5.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.90PKR 4,406
$0.52PKR 144
2957.69%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18PKR 327
$0.56PKR 155
110.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44PKR 677
$0.69PKR 191
253.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94PKR 539
$2.39PKR 663
-18.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 53.2
$0.20PKR 55.0
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.07PKR 2,789
$10.12PKR 2,803
-0.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94PKR 261
$1.05PKR 291
-10.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34PKR 93.9
$1.09PKR 302
-68.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.14PKR 869
$2.88PKR 797
9.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17PKR 323
$1.10PKR 305
6.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KPKR 4.9M
$23.9KPKR 6.6M
-26.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KPKR 6.7M
$22.9KPKR 6.3M
5.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.1K
$67.8PKR 18.8K
65.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76PKR 1,594
$5.45PKR 1,509
5.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.29PKR 5,067
$14.55PKR 4,031
25.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.83PKR 3,278
$14.84PKR 4,112
-20.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79PKR 1,881
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30PKR 1,191
$7.01PKR 1,941
-38.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.80PKR 13.5K
$26.27PKR 7,278
85.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$852PKR 235.9K
$2,051PKR 568.1K
-58.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.89PKR 5,787
$18.61PKR 5,156
12.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.53PKR 7,903
$26.02PKR 7,209
9.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5PKR 25.9K
$54.5PKR 15.1K
71.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.66PKR 9,879
$30.01PKR 8,313
18.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201PKR 55.7K
$127PKR 35.3K
57.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.3PKR 22.8K
$77.7PKR 21.5K
5.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430PKR 119.1K
$257PKR 71.1K
67.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226PKR 62.6K
$147PKR 40.6K
54.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,149PKR 318.2K
$906PKR 251.0K
26.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$517PKR 143.2K
$512PKR 142.0K
0.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173PKR 48.0K
-
-
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 7, 2026
Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Rawalpindi versus $127 in Mandi Bahauddin. 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 $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $95.0 – making Mandi Bahauddin 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 Mandi Bahauddin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Mandi Bahauddin?
Rawalpindi costs about 23% more than Mandi Bahauddin, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rawalpindi and in Mandi Bahauddin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $755 per month in Rawalpindi and $615 in Mandi Bahauddin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rawalpindi or Mandi Bahauddin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mandi Bahauddin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Rawalpindi compared to Mandi Bahauddin?
Public transport costs about 0% less in Mandi Bahauddin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Mandi Bahauddin?
Kindergarten costs $48.80 per month in Rawalpindi and $26.27 in Mandi Bahauddin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Rawalpindi or in Mandi Bahauddin?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $503 in Rawalpindi and $410 in Mandi Bahauddin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Mandi Bahauddin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Rawalpindi compared to Mandi Bahauddin?
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.
Should I move to Rawalpindi or to Mandi Bahauddin?
If budget matters most, go with Mandi Bahauddin. 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