😐A single person spends $427 per month in Rawalpindi vs $334 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $665 per month in Rawalpindi vs $524 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $902 per month in Rawalpindi vs $715 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 28% more than Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Mandi Bahauddin are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi68% lower, Mandi Bahauddin75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75PKR 485
$1.79PKR 497
-2.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.18PKR 3,942
$8.63PKR 2,399
64.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18PKR 1,441
$3.51PKR 975
47.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56PKR 435
$2.79PKR 776
-44.09%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42PKR 951
$4.90PKR 1,363
-30.20%
Cappuccino
$1.67PKR 464
$1.03PKR 287
62.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 95.4
$0.31PKR 86.0
9.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.1
$0.22PKR 61.0
-4.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80PKR 221
$0.73PKR 202
9.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 156
$0.43PKR 121
30.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29PKR 358
$1.31PKR 365
-1.53%
Eggs
$1.17PKR 326
$1.16PKR 322
0.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.08PKR 1,690
$6.09PKR 1,693
-0.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.33PKR 926
$2.58PKR 716
29.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.52PKR 1,256
$3.18PKR 884
42.14%
Apples(1kg)
$0.99PKR 275
$1.04PKR 288
-4.81%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 178
$0.58PKR 162
10.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92PKR 256
$0.65PKR 182
41.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51PKR 141
$0.57PKR 157
-10.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 100
$0.35PKR 96.2
2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.51PKR 142
-3.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.7
$0.63PKR 176
-61.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.40PKR 110
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.38PKR 4,554
$0.94PKR 262
1642.55%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02PKR 285
$0.73PKR 204
39.73%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28PKR 635
$2.04PKR 566
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 530
$1.89PKR 525
0.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 55.9
$0.19PKR 52.4
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.52PKR 2,646
$6.91PKR 1,922
37.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84PKR 234
$1.04PKR 289
-19.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33PKR 91.0
$0.49PKR 137
-32.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07PKR 854
$1.81PKR 503
69.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 254
$0.99PKR 276
-8.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KPKR 4.9M
$21.7KPKR 6.0M
-19.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KPKR 6.4M
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
9.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100PKR 27.9K
$58.5PKR 16.3K
71.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.12PKR 1,146
$3.86PKR 1,074
6.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.38PKR 4,555
$13.08PKR 3,636
25.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.15PKR 2,821
$12.43PKR 3,457
-18.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.73PKR 2,150
$6.08PKR 1,691
27.14%
Cinema Ticket
$3.61PKR 1,005
$3.60PKR 1,000
0.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.70PKR 11.3K
$28.03PKR 7,794
45.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$965PKR 268.4K
$1,143PKR 317.8K
-15.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.77PKR 3,273
$16.32PKR 4,537
-27.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.65PKR 5,184
$22.18PKR 6,167
-15.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.8PKR 25.0K
$59.1PKR 16.4K
51.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.17PKR 7,832
$26.09PKR 7,254
7.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 37.0K
$73.9PKR 20.5K
80.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.5PKR 18.2K
$51.9PKR 14.4K
26.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333PKR 92.6K
$167PKR 46.4K
99.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172PKR 47.9K
$108PKR 30.0K
59.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,130PKR 314.2K
$923PKR 256.7K
22.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$511PKR 142.1K
$496PKR 138.0K
2.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173PKR 48.2K
-
-
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $73.9 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 $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $86.0 – 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 28% more than Mandi Bahauddin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 vs Mandi Bahauddin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $641 per month in Rawalpindi and $501 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 vs Mandi Bahauddin?
Public transport costs about 38% 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 Mandi Bahauddin?
Kindergarten costs $40.70 per month in Rawalpindi and $28.03 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 Mandi Bahauddin?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $427 in Rawalpindi and $334 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 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