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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $390 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $584 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $778 in Mehar.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 10% more expensive than Mehar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Mehar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.75 PKR 488

1.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,958

$10.59 PKR 2,946

34.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,471

$3.99 PKR 1,110

32.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.74 PKR 484

-11.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$3.44 PKR 957

-1.16%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.44 PKR 402

20.14%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.35 PKR 96.3

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.23 PKR 64.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.78 PKR 216

1.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.56 PKR 156

1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.20 PKR 334

2.50%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.17 PKR 326

-4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,694

$6.12 PKR 1,703

-0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.68 PKR 747

26.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.77 PKR 1,050

21.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.04 PKR 289

-1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.65 PKR 180

3.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.61 PKR 170

50.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.48 PKR 133

-2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.38 PKR 105

-13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.33 PKR 93.1

-21.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.34 PKR 93.7

8.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,575

$1.49 PKR 416

1003.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.93 PKR 259

11.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 670

$2.03 PKR 565

18.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.92 PKR 535

-1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.38

$0.20 PKR 55.2

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,752

$7.24 PKR 2,013

36.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.91 PKR 255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.6

$0.44 PKR 122

-20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.82 PKR 507

63.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.91 PKR 253

5.49%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-16.39%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

-2.00%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$103 PKR 28.6K

-2.39%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$4.08 PKR 1,136

-2.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,631

$13.55 PKR 3,770

22.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,822

$12.53 PKR 3,487

-19.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$5.98 PKR 1,665

28.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$3.52 PKR 980

2.27%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$30.10 PKR 8,377

32.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.7K

$1,126 PKR 313.4K

-14.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,283

$14.93 PKR 4,155

-20.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,244

$21.83 PKR 6,076

-13.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

25.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,899

$29.41 PKR 8,183

-3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

75.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

30.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.2K

$167 PKR 46.6K

93.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$106 PKR 29.5K

63.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.5K

$1,059 PKR 294.8K

10.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$463 PKR 128.9K

11.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$106 PKR 29.5K

61.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

6.16%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mehar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $73.9 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 61% 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 $11.00 in Mehar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $87.0 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 10% 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.

Rawalpindi pays 61% more on average, 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $73.9 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $390 in Mehar – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 37% 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 10% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.