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: $425 in Rawalpindi versus $391 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $589 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $914 in Rawalpindi versus $786 in Mehar.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 9% more expensive than in Mehar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.81 PKR 502

-4.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,952

$10.63 PKR 2,952

33.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 PKR 1,433

$4.01 PKR 1,114

28.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 PKR 431

$1.74 PKR 483

-10.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 943

$3.49 PKR 969

-2.58%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 476

$1.43 PKR 397

19.58%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.31 PKR 87.1

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.75 PKR 209

14.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.60 PKR 168

-13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.21 PKR 335

6.61%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.13 PKR 313

2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.23 PKR 1,731

$5.90 PKR 1,639

5.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 PKR 921

$2.59 PKR 718

28.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.52 PKR 1,254

$3.63 PKR 1,009

24.52%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.01 PKR 280

-6.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.64 PKR 179

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.63 PKR 174

46.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.52 PKR 145

-3.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.34 PKR 95.0

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.51 PKR 141

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.6

$0.34 PKR 93.2

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.39 PKR 4,552

$1.33 PKR 369

1132.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.87 PKR 241

17.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 633

$2.04 PKR 567

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.92 PKR 534

3.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.1

$0.19 PKR 53.0

10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.78 PKR 2,716

$7.05 PKR 1,957

38.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.92 PKR 254

-5.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.40 PKR 111

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.73 PKR 479

71.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.90 PKR 249

7.78%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-16.70%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

0.82%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

-0.12%

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

$4.03 PKR 1,118

$3.94 PKR 1,095

2.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.21 PKR 4,500

$13.98 PKR 3,882

15.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.17 PKR 2,824

$12.18 PKR 3,380

-16.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.48 PKR 2,076

$5.88 PKR 1,633

27.21%

Cinema Ticket

$3.59 PKR 997

$3.44 PKR 956

4.36%

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

$40.91 PKR 11.4K

$29.49 PKR 8,186

38.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$955 PKR 265.1K

$1,128 PKR 313.2K

-15.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.81 PKR 3,279

$15.46 PKR 4,292

-23.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.85 PKR 5,232

$22.26 PKR 6,180

-15.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 PKR 24.6K

$70.4 PKR 19.5K

25.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.57 PKR 7,933

$29.10 PKR 8,080

-1.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.0K

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

72.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 PKR 18.3K

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

28.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$325 PKR 90.2K

$165 PKR 45.9K

96.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 PKR 47.8K

$104 PKR 28.9K

65.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,167 PKR 324.0K

$787 PKR 218.5K

48.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 144.3K

$434 PKR 120.5K

19.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 PKR 47.7K

$109 PKR 30.3K

57.51%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Mehar: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $75.2 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 58% 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 $86.0 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 9% 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 58% 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $75.2 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $425 per month in Rawalpindi versus $391 in Mehar – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 39% 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 9% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.