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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $379 in Peshawar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $564 in Peshawar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $749 in Peshawar.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 13% more expensive than Peshawar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Peshawar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.23 PKR 621

-20.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$10.77 PKR 2,995

32.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$3.58 PKR 996

47.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.44 PKR 401

6.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$2.73 PKR 758

24.54%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.77 PKR 492

-2.26%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.28 PKR 76.8

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.17 PKR 47.72

35.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.82 PKR 227

-3.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.61 PKR 169

-6.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.12 PKR 312

9.82%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.24 PKR 346

-9.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$3.36 PKR 935

81.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$3.07 PKR 855

10.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.66 PKR 1,017

24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.04 PKR 290

-1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.65 PKR 180

3.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.97 PKR 270

-5.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.45 PKR 126

4.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.45 PKR 124

15.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.22 PKR 61.1

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.32 PKR 88.1

15.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$0.75 PKR 208

2092.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.56 PKR 435

-33.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$3.48 PKR 969

-30.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.80 PKR 502

5.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.16 PKR 45.28

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$6.90 PKR 1,918

43.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.68 PKR 190

33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.75 PKR 209

-53.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.82 PKR 507

63.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$1.00 PKR 278

-4.00%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

51.12%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-0.09%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$96.3 PKR 26.8K

4.31%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$4.24 PKR 1,179

-5.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$10.89 PKR 3,028

52.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$9.91 PKR 2,757

2.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,134

$6.88 PKR 1,913

11.48%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$4.28 PKR 1,191

-15.89%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$30.41 PKR 8,459

30.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$519 PKR 144.5K

85.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$13.14 PKR 3,656

-10.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$19.22 PKR 5,346

-1.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$38.29 PKR 10.7K

129.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$32.48 PKR 9,035

-12.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$119 PKR 33.2K

8.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

28.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$206 PKR 57.4K

57.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

81.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$173 PKR 48.0K

-0.90%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $119 in Peshawar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Peshawar pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 13% 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.

On paper, Peshawar earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $119 in Peshawar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $379 in Peshawar – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 43% 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 13% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.