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 $423 per month in Rawalpindi vs $332 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A couple spends around $670 per month in Rawalpindi vs $512 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

A family of three spends $917 per month in Rawalpindi vs $692 in Mandi Bahauddin, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 27% 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 487
$1.78 PKR 496
-1.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.30 PKR 3,985
$8.58 PKR 2,393
66.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 PKR 1,501
$3.52 PKR 982
52.84%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 PKR 454
$2.77 PKR 772
-41.16%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PKR 985
$4.81 PKR 1,340
-26.61%
Cappuccino
$1.71 PKR 477
$1.08 PKR 300
58.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 PKR 87.8
$0.33 PKR 93.3
-6.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.3
$0.24 PKR 67.1
-12.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 PKR 238
$0.74 PKR 207
14.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.40 PKR 112
30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 360
$1.31 PKR 365
-1.53%
Eggs
$1.18 PKR 329
$1.19 PKR 333
-0.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.18 PKR 1,724
$6.13 PKR 1,708
0.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 PKR 959
$2.66 PKR 742
29.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.46 PKR 1,244
$3.22 PKR 897
38.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 280
$1.03 PKR 287
-2.91%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 PKR 177
$0.55 PKR 153
16.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 PKR 239
$0.62 PKR 173
38.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 134
$0.56 PKR 157
-14.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.34 PKR 96.1
5.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 136
$0.51 PKR 143
-3.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 PKR 66.3
$0.59 PKR 164
-59.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.40 PKR 111
-10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.92 PKR 4,437
$1.42 PKR 396
1021.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 PKR 277
$0.72 PKR 201
37.50%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 PKR 643
$1.98 PKR 552
16.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 PKR 541
$1.89 PKR 528
2.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.8
$0.20 PKR 55.7
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.95 PKR 2,774
$6.90 PKR 1,922
44.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 PKR 234
$1.04 PKR 290
-19.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$0.49 PKR 135
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 PKR 856
$1.76 PKR 489
74.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 271
$0.96 PKR 269
1.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
$22.3K PKR 6.2M
-21.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K PKR 6.5M
$21.3K PKR 5.9M
8.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.7K
$57.5 PKR 16.0K
78.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 PKR 1,101
$3.88 PKR 1,080
1.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.31 PKR 4,545
$12.68 PKR 3,536
28.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.99 PKR 2,784
$12.29 PKR 3,425
-18.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52 PKR 2,097
$6.07 PKR 1,692
23.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64 PKR 1,015
$3.50 PKR 977
4.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.91 PKR 11.1K
$28.27 PKR 7,880
41.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$953 PKR 265.7K
$1,140 PKR 317.7K
-16.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.64 PKR 3,246
$16.53 PKR 4,607
-29.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.40 PKR 5,131
$21.66 PKR 6,038
-15.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 PKR 24.8K
$60.0 PKR 16.7K
48.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.47 PKR 7,937
$25.71 PKR 7,167
10.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$130 PKR 36.2K
$76.1 PKR 21.2K
70.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$64.5 PKR 18.0K
$51.7 PKR 14.4K
24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$327 PKR 91.2K
$165 PKR 46.1K
97.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 PKR 48.5K
$107 PKR 29.8K
62.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,159 PKR 323.0K
$893 PKR 248.9K
29.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$522 PKR 145.4K
$524 PKR 146.0K
-0.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Mandi Bahauddin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$174 PKR 48.4K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $76.1 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 27% 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 $635 per month in Rawalpindi and $498 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 44% 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 $39.91 per month in Rawalpindi and $28.27 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 Mandi Bahauddin?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $423 in Rawalpindi and $332 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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