Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Nawabshah Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Nawabshah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $425 in Rawalpindi versus $438 in Nawabshah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $635 in Nawabshah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $914 in Rawalpindi versus $831 in Nawabshah.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 3% less than in Nawabshah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Nawabshah 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.08 PKR 579

-16.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,953

$12.43 PKR 3,450

14.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 PKR 1,433

$4.07 PKR 1,129

26.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 PKR 431

$1.91 PKR 531

-18.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 943

$5.18 PKR 1,437

-34.36%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 476

$1.82 PKR 506

-6.04%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.36 PKR 100

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 PKR 58.2

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.70 PKR 194

22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.33 PKR 92.7

57.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.17 PKR 325

10.26%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$0.99 PKR 274

17.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.23 PKR 1,731

$6.34 PKR 1,759

-1.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 PKR 921

$2.19 PKR 607

51.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.52 PKR 1,254

$3.62 PKR 1,005

24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.09 PKR 302

-13.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.46 PKR 128

39.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.75 PKR 207

22.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.28 PKR 78.5

78.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.28 PKR 78.3

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.51 PKR 142

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.6

$0.36 PKR 99.7

-27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.40 PKR 112

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.39 PKR 4,552

$1.29 PKR 359

1170.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$1.28 PKR 355

-20.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 633

$2.15 PKR 596

6.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.66 PKR 461

19.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.1

$0.17 PKR 46.80

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.78 PKR 2,716

$7.11 PKR 1,974

37.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.72 PKR 201

20.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.65 PKR 181

-50.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.75 PKR 487

69.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.87 PKR 243

11.49%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

5.29%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

$24.7K PKR 6.9M

-7.40%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-22.67%

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

$4.03 PKR 1,118

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-19.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.21 PKR 4,500

$13.54 PKR 3,760

19.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.17 PKR 2,824

$12.16 PKR 3,377

-16.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.48 PKR 2,076

$5.89 PKR 1,636

26.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.59 PKR 997

$4.33 PKR 1,202

-17.09%

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

$40.91 PKR 11.4K

$57.0 PKR 15.8K

-28.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$955 PKR 265.1K

$1,354 PKR 375.8K

-29.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.81 PKR 3,279

$17.68 PKR 4,909

-33.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.85 PKR 5,232

$25.48 PKR 7,074

-26.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 PKR 24.6K

$63.7 PKR 17.7K

38.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.57 PKR 7,933

$35.63 PKR 9,891

-19.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.0K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

72.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 PKR 18.3K

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

24.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$325 PKR 90.2K

$169 PKR 46.8K

92.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 PKR 47.8K

$108 PKR 30.0K

59.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,167 PKR 324.0K

$852 PKR 236.4K

37.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 144.3K

$510 PKR 141.6K

1.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 PKR 47.7K

$128 PKR 35.4K

34.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

17.8

13.31%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 19, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $75.1 in Nawabshah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 34% 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 $12.00 in Nawabshah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $80.0 per month, with Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Nawabshah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rawalpindi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 34% 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $75.1 in Nawabshah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Nawabshah pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Rawalpindi – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $12.00 in Nawabshah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 3% less than in Nawabshah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.