Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Peshawar Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Peshawar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $372 in Peshawar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $554 in Peshawar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $736 in Peshawar.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 18% more expensive than in Peshawar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Peshawar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.34 PKR 651

-22.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$10.75 PKR 2,985

29.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.60 PKR 1,000

50.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.43 PKR 398

9.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$2.61 PKR 725

35.25%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.82 PKR 506

-6.04%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.28 PKR 76.8

10.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.18 PKR 49.00

27.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.81 PKR 225

6.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.57 PKR 158

-7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.12 PKR 312

16.07%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.19 PKR 330

-5.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$3.38 PKR 939

78.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$3.14 PKR 872

9.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.78 PKR 1,051

16.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.04 PKR 288

-2.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.61 PKR 169

13.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.92 PKR 255

-7.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.43 PKR 119

9.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.40 PKR 110

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.45 PKR 125

15.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.24 PKR 66.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.32 PKR 88.8

21.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$0.68 PKR 190

2258.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.63 PKR 452

-39.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$3.60 PKR 999

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.88 PKR 522

1.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.20 PKR 55.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$6.91 PKR 1,918

37.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.69 PKR 190

24.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.73 PKR 204

-56.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.81 PKR 504

61.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.00 PKR 278

-3.00%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

47.71%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

0.94%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$98.5 PKR 27.3K

5.32%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$4.32 PKR 1,201

-6.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$10.62 PKR 2,949

56.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$9.96 PKR 2,766

0.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$6.66 PKR 1,850

11.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.19 PKR 1,164

-17.18%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$29.39 PKR 8,162

36.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$518 PKR 143.7K

83.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$13.06 PKR 3,628

-8.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$19.62 PKR 5,447

-5.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$38.69 PKR 10.7K

131.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$32.49 PKR 9,022

-10.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$120 PKR 33.2K

10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

26.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$202 PKR 56.1K

63.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$95.0 PKR 26.4K

79.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$128 PKR 35.5K

36.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

21.17

-4.72%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $120 in Peshawar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Peshawar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $82.0 per month, with Peshawar cheaper across the board.

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 Peshawar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peshawar wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Peshawar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Rawalpindi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $120 in Peshawar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $372 in Peshawar – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 38% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Peshawar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Peshawar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.