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: $495 in Rawalpindi versus $432 in Peshawar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Rawalpindi versus $604 in Peshawar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Rawalpindi versus $777 in Peshawar.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 14% more expensive than in Peshawar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 64% lower, Peshawar 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 PKR 569

$2.46 PKR 681

-16.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.07 PKR 4,452

$8.51 PKR 2,358

88.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PKR 1,617

$4.81 PKR 1,333

21.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$2.21 PKR 614

-20.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 PKR 971

$2.83 PKR 784

23.67%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 549

$1.29 PKR 357

53.49%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.31 PKR 85.8

41.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.17 PKR 45.74

47.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.93 PKR 257

-2.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.76 PKR 210

-28.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.04 PKR 288

18.27%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.06 PKR 294

4.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,752

$3.59 PKR 995

76.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 990

$3.18 PKR 881

12.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 PKR 1,398

$3.72 PKR 1,030

35.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.22 PKR 339

-1.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.52 PKR 144

61.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$0.63 PKR 174

93.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.53 PKR 147

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.5

$0.28 PKR 78.4

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 91.7

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.28 PKR 76.5

10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.25 PKR 69.0

72.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.09 PKR 4,458

$1.91 PKR 530

742.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

$0.70 PKR 193

62.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 657

$0.70 PKR 193

238.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$1.84 PKR 509

4.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.5

$0.21 PKR 57.9

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,767

$12.74 PKR 3,530

-21.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.10 PKR 305

-15.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.1

$0.71 PKR 196

-50.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 PKR 861

$1.47 PKR 406

111.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.12 PKR 310

0.89%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-21.60%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$24.7K PKR 6.8M

-2.39%

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

$113 PKR 31.2K

$103 PKR 28.5K

9.68%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,537

$5.96 PKR 1,650

-6.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 PKR 5,229

$14.46 PKR 4,006

30.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 PKR 3,354

$15.18 PKR 4,206

-20.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

$5.91 PKR 1,638

15.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,179

$1.93 PKR 536

120.73%

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

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

$45.99 PKR 12.7K

5.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$833 PKR 230.8K

$4,975 PKR 1.4M

-83.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.41 PKR 5,653

$7.14 PKR 1,978

185.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 PKR 7,993

$16.33 PKR 4,523

76.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 PKR 26.0K

$51.0 PKR 14.1K

83.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

$39.89 PKR 11.1K

-9.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.6K

$128 PKR 35.5K

56.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

$78.8 PKR 21.8K

5.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 PKR 118.6K

$195 PKR 54.0K

119.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$116 PKR 32.2K

94.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,170 PKR 324.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 PKR 140.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$148 PKR 41.1K

16.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

107.36%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $128 in Peshawar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 17% 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: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $9.00 in Peshawar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $83.0 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 14% 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 17% 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: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $128 in Peshawar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $495 per month in Rawalpindi versus $432 in Peshawar – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 28% 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 14% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.