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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $414 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $613 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $812 in Multan.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 4% more expensive than Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Multan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.18 PKR 606

-18.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$8.58 PKR 2,386

65.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$5.19 PKR 1,443

1.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.72 PKR 478

-10.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$3.20 PKR 891

6.25%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.43 PKR 398

20.98%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.28 PKR 77.0

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.20 PKR 54.9

15.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.58 PKR 163

36.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.60 PKR 168

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.04 PKR 290

18.27%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.08 PKR 300

3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$4.93 PKR 1,371

23.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.57 PKR 716

31.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.03 PKR 842

50.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.01 PKR 282

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.68 PKR 188

-1.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.58 PKR 160

58.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.51 PKR 143

-7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.38 PKR 104

-13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.43 PKR 119

20.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.57 PKR 157

-54.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.36 PKR 99.4

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.85 PKR 515

788.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.54 PKR 428

-32.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.94 PKR 539

24.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.97 PKR 549

-3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.17 PKR 47.97

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$7.26 PKR 2,019

36.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.03 PKR 286

-11.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.31 PKR 85.4

12.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.38 PKR 384

115.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.95 PKR 266

1.05%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-19.72%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

3.82%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$103 PKR 28.6K

-2.30%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$4.84 PKR 1,347

-17.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$13.62 PKR 3,790

22.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$17.96 PKR 4,997

-43.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,134

$12.52 PKR 3,484

-38.74%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$2.64 PKR 734

36.36%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$36.00 PKR 10.0K

10.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,755 PKR 488.2K

-45.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$16.34 PKR 4,547

-27.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$27.87 PKR 7,752

-32.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

23.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$29.24 PKR 8,135

-2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$85.3 PKR 23.7K

51.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$58.6 PKR 16.3K

13.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$178 PKR 49.4K

82.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$126 PKR 34.9K

37.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$180 PKR 50.0K

-4.78%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Multan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $85.3 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 $80.0 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Multan earns 5% less. 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $85.3 in Multan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $39.75 in Rawalpindi versus $36.00 in Multan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% 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 4% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.