😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $495 in Rawalpindi versus $475 in Mirpur Khas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Rawalpindi versus $711 in Mirpur Khas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Rawalpindi versus $948 in Mirpur Khas.
🌍Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 4% more expensive than in Mirpur Khas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi64% lower, Mirpur Khas65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05PKR 569
$2.13PKR 589
-3.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.07PKR 4,451
$13.47PKR 3,730
19.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.84PKR 1,617
$5.33PKR 1,478
9.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76PKR 487
$2.18PKR 605
-19.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50PKR 971
$7.42PKR 2,056
-52.83%
Cappuccino
$1.98PKR 549
$2.22PKR 614
-10.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 121
$0.35PKR 98.0
25.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.26PKR 72.3
-3.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 251
$0.58PKR 161
56.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.52PKR 144
3.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$1.26PKR 350
-2.38%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 308
$0.99PKR 276
12.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.32PKR 1,752
$6.04PKR 1,672
4.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57PKR 990
$3.01PKR 833
18.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.05PKR 1,397
$6.12PKR 1,696
-17.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20PKR 331
$1.27PKR 352
-5.51%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84PKR 232
$0.58PKR 162
44.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.22PKR 338
$1.00PKR 276
22.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.57PKR 157
-7.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.4
$0.34PKR 95.3
5.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45PKR 124
$0.33PKR 91.7
36.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31PKR 84.9
$0.37PKR 102
-16.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 118
$0.41PKR 113
4.88%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.09PKR 4,457
$1.24PKR 343
1197.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14PKR 316
$1.36PKR 378
-16.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37PKR 657
$2.40PKR 665
-1.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93PKR 535
$1.78PKR 493
8.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.4
$0.18PKR 48.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.99PKR 2,767
$11.24PKR 3,114
-11.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93PKR 258
$0.73PKR 203
27.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 96.1
$0.70PKR 194
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.11PKR 861
$2.19PKR 607
42.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13PKR 313
$1.34PKR 371
-15.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
$18.4KPKR 5.1M
-2.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KPKR 6.7M
$26.9KPKR 7.5M
-10.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113PKR 31.2K
$109PKR 30.1K
3.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.55PKR 1,537
$5.70PKR 1,580
-2.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.88PKR 5,229
$13.32PKR 3,690
41.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.11PKR 3,353
$15.41PKR 4,267
-21.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.81PKR 1,886
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.26PKR 1,179
$4.24PKR 1,175
0.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.70PKR 13.5K
$49.95PKR 13.8K
-2.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$833PKR 230.7K
$1,569PKR 434.5K
-46.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.41PKR 5,652
$15.49PKR 4,291
31.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.85PKR 7,992
$22.05PKR 6,106
30.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7PKR 25.9K
$68.0PKR 18.8K
37.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.19PKR 10.0K
$38.60PKR 10.7K
-6.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201PKR 55.6K
$108PKR 30.0K
85.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$83.0PKR 23.0K
$75.8PKR 21.0K
9.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428PKR 118.6K
$255PKR 70.6K
67.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226PKR 62.6K
$165PKR 45.8K
36.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,170PKR 324.0K
$907PKR 251.3K
28.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$507PKR 140.5K
$551PKR 152.6K
-7.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Mirpur Khas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173PKR 48.0K
-
-
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 14, 2026
Last update for Mirpur Khas: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $108 in Mirpur Khas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $13.00 in Mirpur Khas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $96.0 per month, with Mirpur Khas 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 Mirpur Khas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mirpur Khas cheaper than Rawalpindi?
Mirpur Khas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $742 in Rawalpindi and $713 in Mirpur Khas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Rawalpindi and Mirpur Khas?
Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $108 in Mirpur Khas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $48.70 in Rawalpindi versus $49.95 in Mirpur Khas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Rawalpindi and in Mirpur Khas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 enough for either Rawalpindi or Mirpur Khas?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Mirpur Khas gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Rawalpindi or in Mirpur Khas?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mirpur Khas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% 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