😐A single person spends $504 per month in Rawalpindi vs $421 in Mianwali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $786 per month in Rawalpindi vs $613 in Mianwali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,069 per month in Rawalpindi vs $805 in Mianwali, rent included.
😐Rawalpindi costs about 20% more than Mianwali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Rawalpindi and Mianwali are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi63% lower, Mianwali69% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.12PKR 588
$2.58PKR 716
-17.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.93PKR 4,416
$8.03PKR 2,228
98.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89PKR 1,633
$5.72PKR 1,586
2.97%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 502
$3.62PKR 1,004
-50.00%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52PKR 976
$5.39PKR 1,495
-34.69%
Cappuccino
$1.94PKR 538
$1.09PKR 304
77.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.26PKR 72.2
69.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.19PKR 52.7
31.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 250
$0.66PKR 183
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$0.52PKR 143
5.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 342
$1.12PKR 312
9.82%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 307
$1.22PKR 339
-9.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.16PKR 1,708
$6.42PKR 1,780
-4.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57PKR 988
$1.42PKR 395
151.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.22PKR 1,446
$3.67PKR 1,017
42.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14PKR 316
$1.16PKR 320
-1.72%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86PKR 237
$0.67PKR 186
28.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$0.69PKR 192
78.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.45PKR 126
26.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.3
$0.30PKR 84.1
20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46PKR 127
$0.32PKR 90.1
43.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.1
$0.48PKR 134
-31.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.36PKR 100
11.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.28PKR 4,515
$1.10PKR 304
1380.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20PKR 332
$0.62PKR 171
93.55%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46PKR 681
$1.65PKR 457
49.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93PKR 535
$1.07PKR 296
80.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.62
$0.18PKR 48.52
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12PKR 2,807
$9.28PKR 2,572
9.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.75PKR 209
21.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 104
$0.35PKR 96.6
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16PKR 876
$1.64PKR 456
92.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13PKR 312
$1.09PKR 301
3.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
2.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
$26.8KPKR 7.4M
-6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115PKR 31.9K
$109PKR 30.2K
5.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49PKR 1,522
$3.29PKR 913
66.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67PKR 5,175
$16.15PKR 4,478
15.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.12PKR 3,361
$7.87PKR 2,182
54.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.75PKR 1,872
$5.50PKR 1,526
22.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28PKR 1,187
$4.22PKR 1,170
1.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.47PKR 13.4K
$44.93PKR 12.5K
7.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$844PKR 234.0K
$2,043PKR 566.4K
-58.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85PKR 5,780
$13.26PKR 3,675
57.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.03PKR 7,771
$14.24PKR 3,949
96.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0PKR 25.2K
$73.6PKR 20.4K
23.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.28PKR 10.1K
$8.77PKR 2,432
313.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204PKR 56.7K
$125PKR 34.6K
63.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.0PKR 22.7K
$70.0PKR 19.4K
17.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438PKR 121.5K
$234PKR 65.0K
86.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225PKR 62.5K
$139PKR 38.5K
62.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,164PKR 322.8K
$844PKR 234.0K
37.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512PKR 142.1K
$478PKR 132.6K
7.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Mianwali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
14.22
60.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Last update for Mianwali: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Rawalpindi versus $125 in Mianwali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $8.00 in Mianwali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $81.0 – making Mianwali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Mianwali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rawalpindi or Mianwali?
Rawalpindi costs about 20% more than Mianwali, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rawalpindi and in Mianwali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $756 per month in Rawalpindi and $631 in Mianwali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rawalpindi or Mianwali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mianwali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Rawalpindi or in Mianwali?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Rawalpindi and in Mianwali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Rawalpindi and $8.00 in Mianwali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Rawalpindi or in Mianwali?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $504 in Rawalpindi and $421 in Mianwali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Mianwali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Rawalpindi or to Mianwali?
If budget matters most, go with Mianwali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared