😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $503 in Rawalpindi versus $313 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Rawalpindi versus $530 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Rawalpindi versus $746 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
🌍Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 61% more expensive than in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi64% lower, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 580
$2.65₹253
-21.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.42PKR 4,548
$10.90₹1,041
50.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.81PKR 1,611
$2.58₹246
125.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84PKR 511
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48PKR 963
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.92PKR 532
$1.99₹190
-3.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.35₹33.54
14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.10₹9.32
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.04₹99.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.35₹224
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.66₹62.9
30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59PKR 163
$0.47₹45.11
25.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20PKR 333
$0.64₹60.9
87.50%
Eggs
$1.15PKR 318
$1.05₹100
9.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.21PKR 1,721
$2.87₹275
116.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.47PKR 962
$3.11₹297
11.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.18PKR 1,436
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.19PKR 329
$1.18₹113
0.85%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.41₹39.07
107.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27PKR 352
$1.06₹101
19.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.31₹29.39
83.87%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKR 107
$0.19₹18.34
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 135
$0.31₹29.19
58.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.3
$0.11₹10.73
200.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$0.33₹31.61
27.27%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.90PKR 4,406
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18PKR 327
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44PKR 677
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94PKR 539
$5.05₹482
-61.58%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$2.61₹249
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.24₹118
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.41₹230
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.53₹529
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 53.2
$0.27₹25.99
-29.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.07PKR 2,789
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94PKR 261
$1.04₹99.2
-9.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34PKR 93.9
$0.27₹25.89
25.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.14PKR 869
$1.08₹103
190.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17PKR 323
$1.07₹102
9.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KPKR 4.9M
$12.6K₹1.2M
40.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KPKR 6.7M
$20.2K₹1.9M
19.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.1K
$38.47₹3,675
191.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76PKR 1,594
$3.08₹294
87.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.29PKR 5,067
$5.38₹514
239.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.83PKR 3,278
$15.59₹1,490
-24.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79PKR 1,881
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30PKR 1,191
$4.68₹447
-8.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.80PKR 13.5K
$96.8₹9,252
-49.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$852PKR 235.9K
$762₹72.8K
11.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.89PKR 5,787
$22.11₹2,112
-5.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.53PKR 7,903
$25.05₹2,393
13.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5PKR 25.9K
$47.76₹4,563
95.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.66PKR 9,879
$26.76₹2,557
33.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201PKR 55.7K
$67.2₹6,415
199.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.3PKR 22.8K
$45.80₹4,376
79.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430PKR 119.1K
$188₹17.9K
128.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226PKR 62.6K
$147₹14.0K
54.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,149PKR 318.2K
$1,272₹121.5K
-9.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$517PKR 143.2K
$696₹66.5K
-25.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173PKR 48.0K
$250₹23.9K
-30.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
7.5
204.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $67.2 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mathura, Uttar Pradesh pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $78.0 per month, with Mathura, Uttar Pradesh cheaper across the board.
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 Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Mathura, Uttar Pradesh?
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mathura, Uttar Pradesh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rawalpindi or in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh?
On paper, salaries run 44% lower in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rawalpindi compared to Mathura, Uttar Pradesh?
Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $67.2 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh?
Childcare runs $48.80 in Rawalpindi versus $96.8 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh?
Dining out is cheaper in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Rawalpindi or in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Mathura, Uttar Pradesh gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rawalpindi or Mathura, Uttar Pradesh?
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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mathura, Uttar Pradesh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared