Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Multan Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Multan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $495 in Rawalpindi versus $525 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Rawalpindi versus $750 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Rawalpindi versus $976 in Multan.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 6% less than in Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 64% lower, Multan 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 PKR 569

$2.51 PKR 695

-18.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.07 PKR 4,452

$10.95 PKR 3,033

46.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PKR 1,617

$5.51 PKR 1,528

5.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$2.63 PKR 729

-33.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 PKR 971

$5.24 PKR 1,452

-33.21%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 549

$1.77 PKR 490

11.86%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.28 PKR 77.3

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.20 PKR 54.7

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.67 PKR 184

35.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.54 PKR 150

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.02 PKR 283

20.59%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.15 PKR 318

-3.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,752

$7.13 PKR 1,976

-11.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.39 PKR 661

49.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 PKR 1,398

$4.25 PKR 1,178

18.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$0.92 PKR 254

30.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.52 PKR 145

61.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$0.71 PKR 195

71.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.59 PKR 162

-10.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.5

$0.37 PKR 102

-2.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.43 PKR 120

4.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.47 PKR 129

-34.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.37 PKR 104

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.09 PKR 4,458

$1.81 PKR 501

788.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 657

$2.81 PKR 777

-15.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.12 PKR 589

-8.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.5

$0.18 PKR 48.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,767

$7.32 PKR 2,026

36.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.48 PKR 409

-37.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.1

$0.35 PKR 96.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 PKR 861

$0.88 PKR 244

253.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.10 PKR 304

2.73%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

-29.72%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-9.33%

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

$113 PKR 31.2K

$147 PKR 40.7K

-23.32%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,537

$4.83 PKR 1,338

14.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 PKR 5,229

$18.85 PKR 5,223

0.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 PKR 3,354

$23.83 PKR 6,602

-49.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

$3.56 PKR 986

91.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,179

$4.44 PKR 1,229

-4.05%

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

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

$42.39 PKR 11.7K

14.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$833 PKR 230.8K

$1,029 PKR 285.1K

-19.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.41 PKR 5,653

$18.02 PKR 4,991

13.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 PKR 7,993

$18.90 PKR 5,236

52.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 PKR 26.0K

$93.5 PKR 25.9K

0.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

$25.90 PKR 7,174

39.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.6K

$145 PKR 40.2K

38.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

$90.5 PKR 25.1K

-8.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 PKR 118.6K

$215 PKR 59.6K

98.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$149 PKR 41.3K

51.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,170 PKR 324.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 PKR 140.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$185 PKR 51.2K

-6.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

75.46%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Multan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $145 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Multan pays 7% 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: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Multan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $89.0 per month, with Multan 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 Multan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Multan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $145 in Multan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $48.70 in Rawalpindi versus $42.39 in Multan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Multan pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.