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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Rawalpindi vs $298 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $665 per month in Rawalpindi vs $443 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $899 per month in Rawalpindi vs $588 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.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.07 PKR 297

67.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.27 PKR 3,959

$10.75 PKR 2,983

32.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 PKR 1,460

$4.28 PKR 1,188

22.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 PKR 445

$2.88 PKR 799

-44.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 950

$1.82 PKR 504

87.91%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 460

$1.20 PKR 332

38.33%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.35 PKR 98.5

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.23 PKR 63.8

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.72 PKR 200

9.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.44 PKR 121

27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.16 PKR 323

12.07%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.20 PKR 333

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 PKR 1,660

$2.19 PKR 608

173.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 906

$2.26 PKR 626

44.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,240

$3.25 PKR 903

37.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.05 PKR 293

-2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.51 PKR 140

23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.40 PKR 110

110.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.48 PKR 133

4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.35 PKR 98.5

5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.48 PKR 133

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.43 PKR 119

-39.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.29 PKR 81.3

37.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.96 PKR 4,429

$1.06 PKR 296

1405.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.33 PKR 92.8

209.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 658

$0.86 PKR 238

175.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 533

$1.47 PKR 408

30.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.6

$0.10 PKR 26.64

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 PKR 2,663

$2.78 PKR 770

244.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.74 PKR 205

14.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.50 PKR 138

-36.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 PKR 858

$1.81 PKR 503

70.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.87 PKR 243

9.20%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

-0.01%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

-3.55%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$87.0 PKR 24.1K

15.84%

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

$3.96 PKR 1,100

$3.11 PKR 863

27.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.35 PKR 4,537

$10.68 PKR 2,963

53.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.86 PKR 2,736

$12.61 PKR 3,499

-21.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 PKR 2,060

$5.91 PKR 1,639

25.55%

Cinema Ticket

$3.57 PKR 990

$4.31 PKR 1,197

-17.17%

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

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

$14.36 PKR 3,986

185.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$963 PKR 267.2K

$1,236 PKR 343.1K

-22.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.74 PKR 3,258

$14.92 PKR 4,140

-21.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.96 PKR 5,263

$21.12 PKR 5,861

-10.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$31.97 PKR 8,871

180.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.12 PKR 8,081

$29.57 PKR 8,206

-1.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$28.58 PKR 7,932

365.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

$17.73 PKR 4,919

275.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.8K

$43.20 PKR 12.0K

673.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$32.13 PKR 8,918

439.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

$1,002 PKR 278.0K

13.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.6K

$520 PKR 144.3K

-1.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

$146 PKR 40.4K

20.53%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Okara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $28.58 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 21% 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: $94.0 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

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $646 per month in Rawalpindi and $447 in Okara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 $11.00 in Okara. 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 $431 in Rawalpindi and $298 in Okara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.