Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $287 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $489 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $690 in Muzaffarabad, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 49% more than Muzaffarabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Muzaffarabad 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.37 PKR 382

29.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$14.42 PKR 4,011

-1.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$2.15 PKR 598

146.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.37 PKR 382

12.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$3.51 PKR 977

-3.13%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.03 PKR 286

67.96%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.32 PKR 88.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.21 PKR 58.4

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.80 PKR 221

-1.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.56 PKR 157

1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.25 PKR 349

-1.60%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.16 PKR 323

-3.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$5.95 PKR 1,654

2.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.66 PKR 740

27.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$2.94 PKR 817

55.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.00 PKR 279

2.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.63 PKR 176

6.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.54 PKR 151

70.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.47 PKR 131

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.36 PKR 101

-8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.43 PKR 120

20.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.26 PKR 72.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.36 PKR 101

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.38 PKR 384

1091.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.02 PKR 285

1.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$2.32 PKR 645

3.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.43 PKR 398

32.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.37

$0.37 PKR 102

-51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$7.00 PKR 1,947

41.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.85 PKR 236

7.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.35 PKR 98.7

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$2.69 PKR 748

10.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.95 PKR 265

1.05%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

3.29%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

0.23%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$53.9 PKR 15.0K

86.49%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$4.00 PKR 1,114

-0.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$11.28 PKR 3,138

47.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$7.11 PKR 1,978

42.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$5.37 PKR 1,493

42.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$3.47 PKR 965

3.75%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$24.39 PKR 6,786

62.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.7K

$934 PKR 259.9K

3.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$5.27 PKR 1,466

123.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,243

$9.03 PKR 2,513

108.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$87.0 PKR 24.2K

0.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,897

$10.45 PKR 2,907

171.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$59.0 PKR 16.4K

119.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$27.15 PKR 7,553

144.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$143 PKR 39.7K

127.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$110 PKR 30.7K

56.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$1,020 PKR 283.7K

15.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$441 PKR 122.6K

17.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$291 PKR 80.9K

-41.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

6.16%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Muzaffarabad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $59.0 in Muzaffarabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 70% higher in Muzaffarabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $14.00 in Muzaffarabad. Groceries tell a different story – $95.0 in Rawalpindi vs $84.0 in Muzaffarabad – so Muzaffarabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Muzaffarabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Rawalpindi and $431 in Muzaffarabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Muzaffarabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $14.00 in Muzaffarabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Rawalpindi and $287 in Muzaffarabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Muzaffarabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Muzaffarabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.