Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Okara Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Okara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $427 per month in Rawalpindi vs $295 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $665 per month in Rawalpindi vs $438 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $902 per month in Rawalpindi vs $582 in Okara, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 45% more than Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Okara 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75 PKR 485
$1.04 PKR 288
68.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.18 PKR 3,942
$10.75 PKR 2,989
31.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.18 PKR 1,441
$4.11 PKR 1,144
26.03%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 PKR 435
$2.90 PKR 805
-46.21%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 PKR 951
$1.80 PKR 501
90.00%
Cappuccino
$1.67 PKR 464
$1.22 PKR 339
36.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 95.4
$0.35 PKR 97.9
-2.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.1
$0.23 PKR 64.2
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 PKR 221
$0.73 PKR 204
9.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 156
$0.40 PKR 111
40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 358
$1.21 PKR 336
6.61%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 326
$1.16 PKR 323
0.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.08 PKR 1,690
$2.23 PKR 620
172.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 PKR 926
$2.36 PKR 656
41.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.52 PKR 1,256
$3.19 PKR 888
41.69%
Apples (1kg)
$0.99 PKR 275
$1.05 PKR 293
-5.71%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 PKR 178
$0.55 PKR 153
16.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 PKR 256
$0.42 PKR 118
119.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 141
$0.45 PKR 125
13.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 100
$0.36 PKR 98.8
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 136
$0.52 PKR 146
-5.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 PKR 66.7
$0.43 PKR 119
-44.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 110
$0.29 PKR 80.8
37.93%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$16.38 PKR 4,554
$0.92 PKR 257
1680.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 PKR 285
$0.36 PKR 101
183.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 PKR 635
$0.92 PKR 255
147.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 PKR 530
$1.53 PKR 425
24.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 55.9
$0.12 PKR 33.14
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.52 PKR 2,646
$2.85 PKR 793
234.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 PKR 234
$0.69 PKR 192
21.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 PKR 91.0
$0.53 PKR 146
-37.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 PKR 854
$1.73 PKR 481
77.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 PKR 254
$0.91 PKR 253
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K PKR 4.9M
$17.7K PKR 4.9M
-1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K PKR 6.4M
$23.5K PKR 6.5M
-2.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 PKR 27.9K
$90.2 PKR 25.1K
11.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.12 PKR 1,146
$3.10 PKR 861
32.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.38 PKR 4,555
$10.65 PKR 2,961
53.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.15 PKR 2,821
$12.63 PKR 3,511
-19.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.73 PKR 2,150
$6.05 PKR 1,682
27.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.61 PKR 1,005
$4.30 PKR 1,195
-16.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.70 PKR 11.3K
$14.01 PKR 3,896
190.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$965 PKR 268.4K
$1,239 PKR 344.6K
-22.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.77 PKR 3,273
$15.26 PKR 4,243
-22.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.65 PKR 5,184
$20.82 PKR 5,788
-10.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 PKR 25.0K
$31.73 PKR 8,821
183.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.17 PKR 7,832
$30.48 PKR 8,474
-7.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 PKR 37.0K
$28.65 PKR 7,966
364.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.5 PKR 18.2K
$17.41 PKR 4,839
276.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$333 PKR 92.6K
$41.87 PKR 11.6K
695.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 PKR 47.9K
$32.08 PKR 8,919
436.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,130 PKR 314.2K
$1,004 PKR 279.2K
12.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$511 PKR 142.1K
$515 PKR 143.3K
-0.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 PKR 48.2K
$145 PKR 40.3K
19.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.17
19.88
1.46%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 6, 2026

Last update for Okara: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $28.65 in Okara. 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 20% higher in Rawalpindi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $69.0 – making Okara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Okara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Okara cheaper than Rawalpindi?
Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $641 per month in Rawalpindi and $442 in Okara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Okara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Rawalpindi and Okara?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Rawalpindi or Okara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $11.00 in Okara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Rawalpindi or Okara?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $427 in Rawalpindi and $295 in Okara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Rawalpindi or Okara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Okara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Okara. 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.

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