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: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $320 in Mirpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $475 in Mirpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $630 in Mirpur.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Mirpur 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.73 PKR 481

5.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$7.39 PKR 2,053

88.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.55 PKR 986

52.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.40 PKR 389

11.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$1.74 PKR 483

102.87%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.47 PKR 408

16.33%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.27 PKR 74.3

14.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.19 PKR 51.9

21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.76 PKR 212

13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.52 PKR 144

1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.27 PKR 352

2.36%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$0.88 PKR 245

27.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$3.59 PKR 996

67.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$2.58 PKR 718

32.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.28 PKR 911

34.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.99 PKR 274

2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.56 PKR 155

23.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.66 PKR 184

28.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.51 PKR 142

-7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.29 PKR 81.5

17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.29 PKR 80.6

79.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.29 PKR 81.1

-17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.37 PKR 102

5.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.03 PKR 287

1457.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.92 PKR 255

7.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$1.98 PKR 549

21.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.88 PKR 522

1.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.16 PKR 43.68

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$7.26 PKR 2,015

31.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.05 PKR 291

-18.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.50 PKR 138

-36.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.81 PKR 504

61.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.99 PKR 276

-2.02%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$8,902 PKR 2.5M

98.21%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$13.9K PKR 3.9M

64.01%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

79.80%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$1.74 PKR 484

132.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$12.77 PKR 3,546

30.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$7.26 PKR 2,017

37.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$3.59 PKR 998

106.96%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$3.62 PKR 1,004

-4.14%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$27.77 PKR 7,710

44.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,121 PKR 311.3K

-15.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$16.23 PKR 4,508

-26.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$17.42 PKR 4,837

5.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$35.44 PKR 9,842

152.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$26.09 PKR 7,245

11.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$70.4 PKR 19.6K

88.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

20.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$105 PKR 29.0K

215.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$101 PKR 27.9K

69.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$850 PKR 235.9K

38.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$424 PKR 117.7K

22.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$141 PKR 39.3K

23.54%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mirpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $70.4 in Mirpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 24% 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 $75.0 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 ($437 vs $320 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 24% 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $70.4 in Mirpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $320 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 31% 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.