Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Mandi Bahauddin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Mandi Bahauddin

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Mandi Bahauddin 75% lower.

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

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