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: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $406 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $615 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $824 in Multan.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 8% more expensive than in Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Multan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.07 PKR 574

-12.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$8.62 PKR 2,393

61.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$5.16 PKR 1,432

4.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.75 PKR 486

-10.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$3.22 PKR 895

9.63%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.43 PKR 397

19.58%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.30 PKR 84.3

3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.20 PKR 55.6

15.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.59 PKR 163

45.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.56 PKR 156

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.05 PKR 291

23.81%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.03 PKR 286

8.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$4.76 PKR 1,322

26.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 954

$2.60 PKR 721

31.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.08 PKR 857

42.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.99 PKR 274

2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.68 PKR 188

1.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.57 PKR 160

49.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.49 PKR 136

-4.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.38 PKR 105

-10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.40 PKR 110

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.60 PKR 168

-60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.36 PKR 98.7

8.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.81 PKR 503

786.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.57 PKR 435

-36.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$1.83 PKR 509

31.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 532

$1.92 PKR 534

-0.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.19 PKR 52.1

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$7.17 PKR 1,991

32.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.04 PKR 288

-17.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.31 PKR 85.2

3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.42 PKR 395

105.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.99 PKR 275

-2.02%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-20.66%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

1.10%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$105 PKR 29.0K

-0.80%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$4.92 PKR 1,365

-17.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$13.89 PKR 3,857

19.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$18.04 PKR 5,008

-44.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$12.58 PKR 3,494

-40.94%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$2.63 PKR 731

31.94%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

10.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,754 PKR 487.2K

-45.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$16.64 PKR 4,622

-28.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$27.32 PKR 7,586

-32.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$70.2 PKR 19.5K

27.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,053

$29.67 PKR 8,239

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

52.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

13.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$175 PKR 48.5K

88.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$125 PKR 34.8K

36.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$183 PKR 50.8K

-4.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

17.43

15.72%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Multan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $86.9 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Multan pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $9.00 in Multan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $79.0 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

Multan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $86.9 in Multan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $40.20 in Rawalpindi versus $36.34 in Multan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Multan 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 Multan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.