Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Pakpattan Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Pakpattan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $437 per month in Rawalpindi vs $401 in Pakpattan, rent included.

A couple spends around $671 per month in Rawalpindi vs $595 in Pakpattan, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Rawalpindi vs $789 in Pakpattan, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 9% more than Pakpattan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Pakpattan are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 67% lower, Pakpattan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.10 PKR 584

-13.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$8.62 PKR 2,392

61.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$5.23 PKR 1,452

3.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.72 PKR 478

-9.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$3.13 PKR 869

12.78%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.37 PKR 379

24.82%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.30 PKR 83.3

3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 PKR 58.6

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.58 PKR 161

48.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.56 PKR 155

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.04 PKR 290

25.00%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.08 PKR 299

3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$4.94 PKR 1,371

22.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$2.47 PKR 685

38.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.02 PKR 837

45.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.98 PKR 273

3.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.67 PKR 185

2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.57 PKR 159

49.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.48 PKR 134

-2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.40 PKR 112

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.42 PKR 117

23.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.55 PKR 154

-56.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.38 PKR 106

2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.80 PKR 499

791.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.55 PKR 431

-36.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$1.92 PKR 534

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.99 PKR 553

-4.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.16 PKR 44.75

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$6.97 PKR 1,934

36.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.07 PKR 298

-19.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.49 PKR 136

-34.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.39 PKR 387

110.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.01 PKR 280

-3.96%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

-19.81%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

1.92%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$105 PKR 29.2K

-1.49%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$4.89 PKR 1,359

-17.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$13.48 PKR 3,744

23.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$12.57 PKR 3,492

-20.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$5.83 PKR 1,618

27.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$2.70 PKR 751

28.52%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$36.18 PKR 10.0K

11.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,743 PKR 484.1K

-45.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$16.83 PKR 4,674

-29.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$27.41 PKR 7,611

-32.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

28.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$29.01 PKR 8,055

-0.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

79.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$52.3 PKR 14.5K

24.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$167 PKR 46.3K

97.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$107 PKR 29.6K

60.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$802 PKR 222.7K

46.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$481 PKR 133.4K

7.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$106 PKR 29.4K

64.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

17.43

15.72%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Pakpattan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $73.9 in Pakpattan. 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 65% 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 $9.00 in Pakpattan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $79.0 – making Pakpattan 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 Pakpattan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi costs about 9% more than Pakpattan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $656 per month in Rawalpindi and $601 in Pakpattan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pakpattan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $40.20 per month in Rawalpindi and $36.18 in Pakpattan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $437 in Rawalpindi and $401 in Pakpattan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Pakpattan – 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 Pakpattan. 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.