Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Mehar Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Mehar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $439 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $654 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $870 in Mehar.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 15% more expensive than in Mehar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Mehar 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$2.02 PKR 561

4.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,415

$10.95 PKR 3,034

45.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,633

$6.01 PKR 1,666

-2.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.62 PKR 726

-30.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 976

$5.02 PKR 1,392

-29.88%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 537

$1.56 PKR 433

24.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.33 PKR 90.7

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.20 PKR 55.7

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.82 PKR 228

9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.64 PKR 176

-14.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.18 PKR 327

4.24%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.25 PKR 345

-11.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,708

$5.99 PKR 1,662

2.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 988

$2.65 PKR 735

34.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,446

$4.86 PKR 1,346

7.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.19 PKR 331

-4.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.56 PKR 156

53.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$0.73 PKR 203

68.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.49 PKR 135

16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.31 PKR 87.0

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.35 PKR 96.6

31.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.34 PKR 95.4

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.33 PKR 92.1

21.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,514

$1.98 PKR 550

722.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.14 PKR 317

5.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.31 PKR 642

6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 534

$2.45 PKR 678

-21.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.62

$0.20 PKR 54.2

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,806

$9.99 PKR 2,770

1.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.13 PKR 313

-19.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.61 PKR 170

-37.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 876

$1.73 PKR 480

82.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$1.16 PKR 322

-2.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

-20.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$28.7K PKR 8.0M

-12.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$115 PKR 31.9K

$95.3 PKR 26.4K

20.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.49 PKR 1,522

$5.51 PKR 1,527

-0.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,175

$14.66 PKR 4,063

27.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,361

$14.55 PKR 4,034

-16.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,871

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$4.38 PKR 1,213

-2.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

9.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 233.9K

$944 PKR 261.7K

-10.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,780

$13.64 PKR 3,781

52.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,770

$22.66 PKR 6,283

23.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$65.6 PKR 18.2K

38.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$27.72 PKR 7,685

30.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.6K

$126 PKR 34.9K

62.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

$77.7 PKR 21.6K

5.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.5K

$255 PKR 70.6K

72.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$149 PKR 41.2K

51.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

$953 PKR 264.2K

22.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.0K

$510 PKR 141.3K

0.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

$106 PKR 29.5K

63.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

12.88

77.10%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Mehar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Rawalpindi and $126 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 64% 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: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Mehar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $92.0 per month, with Mehar 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 Mehar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mehar wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mehar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 64% higher in Rawalpindi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $204 in Rawalpindi versus $126 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $504 per month in Rawalpindi versus $439 in Mehar – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 1% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mehar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Mehar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.