🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi versus $433 in Mardan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $641 in Mardan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $917 in Rawalpindi versus $848 in Mardan.
🙂Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 2% less than in Mardan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi68% lower, Mardan68% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75PKR 487
$2.18PKR 607
-19.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.30PKR 3,985
$14.39PKR 4,012
-0.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38PKR 1,501
$5.35PKR 1,491
0.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.63PKR 454
$1.75PKR 488
-6.86%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 985
$3.93PKR 1,097
-10.18%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 477
$2.06PKR 574
-16.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.8
$0.29PKR 79.8
6.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.3
$0.22PKR 61.0
-4.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85PKR 238
$0.78PKR 216
8.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.65PKR 182
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29PKR 360
$0.84PKR 233
53.57%
Eggs
$1.18PKR 329
$1.16PKR 322
1.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18PKR 1,724
$6.03PKR 1,680
2.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.44PKR 959
$2.39PKR 666
43.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.46PKR 1,244
$3.10PKR 866
43.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.00PKR 280
$0.74PKR 205
35.14%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 177
$0.55PKR 152
16.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.95PKR 266
-9.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$0.30PKR 84.8
60.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.24PKR 66.8
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.37PKR 102
32.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.3
$0.31PKR 86.1
-22.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.15PKR 41.17
140.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.92PKR 4,437
$1.98PKR 552
704.04%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 277
$0.87PKR 243
13.79%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30PKR 643
$1.99PKR 554
15.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94PKR 541
$1.37PKR 383
41.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.8
$0.18PKR 49.01
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.95PKR 2,774
$7.04PKR 1,964
41.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84PKR 234
$0.36PKR 102
133.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 98.2
$0.34PKR 96.0
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07PKR 856
$1.81PKR 506
69.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 271
$0.97PKR 271
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$20.8KPKR 5.8M
-15.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.5M
$26.2KPKR 7.3M
-11.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.7K
$114PKR 31.8K
-9.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95PKR 1,101
$5.37PKR 1,497
-26.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.31PKR 4,545
$18.43PKR 5,137
-11.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.99PKR 2,784
$12.43PKR 3,464
-19.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52PKR 2,097
$5.91PKR 1,647
27.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64PKR 1,015
$4.18PKR 1,165
-12.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$17.36PKR 4,839
129.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$953PKR 265.7K
$1,128PKR 314.4K
-15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.64PKR 3,246
$21.42PKR 5,970
-45.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.40PKR 5,131
$27.91PKR 7,781
-34.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8PKR 24.8K
$89.5PKR 25.0K
-0.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.47PKR 7,937
$17.55PKR 4,893
62.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.2K
$75.8PKR 21.1K
71.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.5PKR 18.0K
$51.6PKR 14.4K
25.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327PKR 91.2K
$164PKR 45.8K
99.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174PKR 48.5K
$108PKR 30.1K
60.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,159PKR 323.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$522PKR 145.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Mardan
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$174PKR 48.4K
$270PKR 75.2K
-35.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
20.2
-0.15%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Mardan: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $75.8 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mardan pays 55% 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: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $14.00 in Mardan. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 vs $78.0, with Mardan cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Rawalpindi vs Mardan: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Mardan cheaper than Rawalpindi?
Rawalpindi is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rawalpindi or Mardan?
On paper, Mardan earns 55% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Rawalpindi and Mardan?
Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $75.8 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $39.91 in Rawalpindi versus $17.36 in Mardan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Rawalpindi and Mardan?
Shoppers in Mardan pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,200 enough for either Rawalpindi or Mardan?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Rawalpindi or Mardan?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Mardan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado