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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Rawalpindi vs $406 in Pakpattan, rent included.

A couple spends around $679 per month in Rawalpindi vs $597 in Pakpattan, rent included.

A family of three spends $929 per month in Rawalpindi vs $788 in Pakpattan, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 6% more than Pakpattan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rawalpindi and Pakpattan are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Pakpattan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.18 PKR 606

-18.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$8.78 PKR 2,444

61.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$5.33 PKR 1,482

-0.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.72 PKR 479

-10.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$3.24 PKR 901

4.94%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.37 PKR 382

26.28%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.28 PKR 77.6

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.17 PKR 48.64

35.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.58 PKR 163

36.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.56 PKR 157

1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.05 PKR 291

17.14%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.09 PKR 303

2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$4.75 PKR 1,321

28.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.59 PKR 722

30.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.04 PKR 846

50.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.97 PKR 270

5.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.72 PKR 199

-6.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.59 PKR 163

55.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.48 PKR 134

-2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.38 PKR 105

-13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.42 PKR 117

23.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.56 PKR 155

-53.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.38 PKR 107

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.84 PKR 513

793.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.63 PKR 453

-36.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.91 PKR 531

26.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.94 PKR 539

-2.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.20 PKR 55.3

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$6.88 PKR 1,913

43.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.03 PKR 287

-11.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.50 PKR 139

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.45 PKR 402

104.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$1.01 PKR 281

-4.95%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-18.96%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.1K PKR 6.1M

3.20%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$105 PKR 29.1K

-4.09%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$4.93 PKR 1,370

-19.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$13.99 PKR 3,893

18.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$12.40 PKR 3,448

-18.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$5.87 PKR 1,633

30.66%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$2.59 PKR 722

39.00%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$36.33 PKR 10.1K

9.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,751 PKR 487.0K

-45.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$16.49 PKR 4,588

-28.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$27.39 PKR 7,618

-31.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$69.0 PKR 19.2K

27.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$28.62 PKR 7,963

-0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$74.3 PKR 20.7K

74.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

30.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$167 PKR 46.4K

94.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$104 PKR 29.0K

65.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$1,075 PKR 299.2K

9.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

-0.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$106 PKR 29.4K

61.63%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pakpattan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $74.3 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 62% 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 6% 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 $644 per month in Rawalpindi and $610 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 $39.75 per month in Rawalpindi and $36.33 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 $429 in Rawalpindi and $406 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.