Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Mirpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Mirpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $313 in Mirpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $473 in Mirpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $633 in Mirpur.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 37% more expensive than Mirpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Mirpur 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.73 PKR 480

2.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$7.48 PKR 2,082

90.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$3.64 PKR 1,013

45.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.38 PKR 384

11.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$1.75 PKR 486

94.29%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.53 PKR 424

13.07%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.29 PKR 81.7

10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.16 PKR 43.84

43.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.70 PKR 195

12.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.51 PKR 141

11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.30 PKR 361

-5.38%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$0.83 PKR 232

34.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$3.57 PKR 993

70.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.58 PKR 717

31.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.27 PKR 910

39.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.99 PKR 274

3.03%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.59 PKR 163

13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.62 PKR 173

48.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.52 PKR 144

-9.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.27 PKR 74.2

22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.29 PKR 81.7

79.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.27 PKR 74.9

-3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.33 PKR 93.1

12.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$0.95 PKR 265

1630.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.85 PKR 237

22.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$2.06 PKR 573

16.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.83 PKR 509

3.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.18 PKR 49.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$7.10 PKR 1,974

39.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.03 PKR 286

-11.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.50 PKR 139

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.76 PKR 488

68.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.92 PKR 256

4.35%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$8,947 PKR 2.5M

101.06%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$14.1K PKR 3.9M

61.48%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$57.4 PKR 16.0K

74.99%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$1.79 PKR 498

122.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$12.68 PKR 3,527

31.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$6.87 PKR 1,912

47.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$3.59 PKR 1,000

113.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$3.62 PKR 1,008

-0.55%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$28.71 PKR 7,987

38.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,109 PKR 308.6K

-13.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$16.34 PKR 4,545

-27.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$17.71 PKR 4,927

6.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$35.90 PKR 9,988

144.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$26.09 PKR 7,259

8.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$71.0 PKR 19.7K

82.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

26.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$106 PKR 29.4K

206.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$99.9 PKR 27.8K

73.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$1,131 PKR 314.6K

3.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$556 PKR 154.7K

-7.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$141 PKR 39.3K

20.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

12.06%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mirpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $71.0 in Mirpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 21% 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 $7.00 in Mirpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $74.0 per month, with Mirpur 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Mirpur differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($429 vs $313 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Rawalpindi pays 21% 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 $71.0 in Mirpur. 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 $313 in Mirpur – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur 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 $1,200 a month, though Mirpur 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 Mirpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.