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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $423 per month in Rawalpindi vs $303 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $670 per month in Rawalpindi vs $447 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $917 per month in Rawalpindi vs $592 in Okara, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 40% more than Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Okara 77% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75 PKR 487
$1.05 PKR 293
66.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.30 PKR 3,985
$10.41 PKR 2,903
37.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 PKR 1,501
$4.16 PKR 1,158
29.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 PKR 454
$2.87 PKR 801
-43.21%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PKR 985
$1.81 PKR 505
95.03%
Cappuccino
$1.71 PKR 477
$1.19 PKR 331
43.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 PKR 87.8
$0.33 PKR 91.3
-6.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.3
$0.23 PKR 64.2
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 PKR 238
$0.72 PKR 201
18.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.44 PKR 122
18.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 360
$1.17 PKR 326
10.26%
Eggs
$1.18 PKR 329
$1.16 PKR 324
1.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.18 PKR 1,724
$2.25 PKR 628
174.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 PKR 959
$2.33 PKR 649
47.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.46 PKR 1,244
$3.21 PKR 896
38.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 280
$1.07 PKR 298
-6.54%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 PKR 177
$0.51 PKR 142
25.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 PKR 239
$0.42 PKR 117
104.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 134
$0.45 PKR 124
6.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.33 PKR 90.7
9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 136
$0.51 PKR 142
-3.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 PKR 66.3
$0.39 PKR 109
-38.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.29 PKR 81.3
24.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.92 PKR 4,437
$0.69 PKR 192
2207.25%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 PKR 277
$0.34 PKR 93.6
191.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 PKR 643
$0.90 PKR 252
155.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 PKR 541
$1.52 PKR 423
27.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.8
$0.10 PKR 27.66
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.95 PKR 2,774
$2.86 PKR 798
247.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 PKR 234
$0.70 PKR 194
20.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$0.49 PKR 137
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 PKR 856
$1.80 PKR 501
70.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 271
$0.96 PKR 269
1.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
-0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K PKR 6.5M
$23.1K PKR 6.4M
0.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.7K
$89.0 PKR 24.8K
15.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 PKR 1,101
$3.15 PKR 879
25.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.31 PKR 4,545
$10.40 PKR 2,900
56.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.99 PKR 2,784
$12.51 PKR 3,488
-20.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52 PKR 2,097
$5.83 PKR 1,625
28.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64 PKR 1,015
$4.16 PKR 1,159
-12.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.91 PKR 11.1K
$14.22 PKR 3,963
180.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$953 PKR 265.7K
$1,255 PKR 349.9K
-24.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.64 PKR 3,246
$15.02 PKR 4,187
-22.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.40 PKR 5,131
$21.53 PKR 6,003
-14.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 PKR 24.8K
$31.30 PKR 8,725
183.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.47 PKR 7,937
$30.71 PKR 8,560
-7.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$130 PKR 36.2K
$27.84 PKR 7,761
366.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$64.5 PKR 18.0K
$17.77 PKR 4,955
263.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$327 PKR 91.2K
$42.28 PKR 11.8K
673.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 PKR 48.5K
$31.91 PKR 8,895
444.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,159 PKR 323.0K
$740 PKR 206.3K
56.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$522 PKR 145.4K
$505 PKR 140.7K
3.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Okara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$174 PKR 48.4K
$143 PKR 39.8K
21.61%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Okara: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $27.84 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 22% 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 $10.00 in Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $68.0 – 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 40%, 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 $635 per month in Rawalpindi and $454 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 39% 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 $10.00 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 $423 in Rawalpindi and $303 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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