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: $491 in Rawalpindi versus $463 in Nawabshah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Rawalpindi versus $713 in Nawabshah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,060 in Rawalpindi versus $963 in Nawabshah.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 6% more expensive than in Nawabshah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Nawabshah 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 PKR 561

$2.22 PKR 615

-8.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.03 PKR 4,436

$13.39 PKR 3,706

19.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 PKR 1,612

$5.39 PKR 1,492

8.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 PKR 511

$2.14 PKR 592

-13.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 PKR 927

$7.13 PKR 1,975

-53.02%

Cappuccino

$1.95 PKR 539

$2.31 PKR 638

-15.58%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.38 PKR 106

15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.6

$0.24 PKR 66.2

4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.85 PKR 234

-1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.55 PKR 153

1.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.25 PKR 345

-0.80%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.23 PKR 341

-7.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.38 PKR 1,765

$6.13 PKR 1,697

4.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 PKR 977

$3.04 PKR 842

16.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 PKR 1,370

$6.27 PKR 1,736

-21.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 320

$1.22 PKR 338

-4.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.55 PKR 152

58.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 343

$1.02 PKR 284

21.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.56 PKR 156

-3.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.34 PKR 94.6

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.31 PKR 85.8

48.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.36 PKR 100

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.40 PKR 111

-2.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.10 PKR 4,457

$1.28 PKR 354

1157.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PKR 334

$1.32 PKR 364

-8.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PKR 670

$2.43 PKR 673

-0.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.03 PKR 562

$1.81 PKR 502

12.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.18 PKR 48.92

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.05 PKR 2,781

$10.18 PKR 2,819

-1.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 PKR 259

$0.75 PKR 208

25.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.70 PKR 194

-47.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 PKR 870

$2.19 PKR 607

43.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 PKR 329

$1.30 PKR 359

-8.46%

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

$18.9K PKR 5.2M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

4.50%

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

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

-9.84%

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

$111 PKR 30.7K

$110 PKR 30.4K

1.18%

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

$5.70 PKR 1,577

$5.90 PKR 1,634

-3.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.42 PKR 5,098

$13.08 PKR 3,619

40.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.76 PKR 3,256

$15.09 PKR 4,177

-22.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 PKR 2,012

$7.37 PKR 2,041

-1.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,219

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

$48.86 PKR 13.5K

$51.4 PKR 14.2K

-4.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,033 PKR 285.9K

$1,595 PKR 441.5K

-35.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.34 PKR 4,798

$15.71 PKR 4,348

10.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 PKR 8,982

$21.87 PKR 6,052

48.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 PKR 25.3K

$69.8 PKR 19.3K

31.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.83 PKR 10.2K

$38.21 PKR 10.6K

-3.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$125 PKR 34.6K

57.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.2 PKR 22.7K

$77.1 PKR 21.3K

6.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 PKR 113.4K

$248 PKR 68.6K

65.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 PKR 63.8K

$147 PKR 40.8K

56.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,196 PKR 331.1K

$898 PKR 248.6K

33.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$454 PKR 125.6K

$525 PKR 145.3K

-13.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.0K

$127 PKR 35.1K

39.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

12.88

77.10%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Rawalpindi and $125 in Nawabshah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 40% 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 $13.00 in Nawabshah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $101 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

Nawabshah wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nawabshah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 40% 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: $197 in Rawalpindi versus $125 in Nawabshah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Nawabshah – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.