Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $427 per month in Rawalpindi vs $352 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $665 per month in Rawalpindi vs $550 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $902 per month in Rawalpindi vs $748 in Quetta, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 22% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rawalpindi and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 68% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 485

$3.45 PKR 960

-49.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.18 PKR 3,942

$10.69 PKR 2,972

32.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.18 PKR 1,441

$4.40 PKR 1,223

17.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 435

$1.80 PKR 500

-13.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 951

$1.57 PKR 435

117.83%

Cappuccino

$1.67 PKR 464

$1.62 PKR 449

3.09%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.4

$0.42 PKR 118

-19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.22 PKR 61.2

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 221

$0.74 PKR 207

8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.46 PKR 129

21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.07 PKR 298

20.56%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.08 PKR 299

8.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.08 PKR 1,690

$5.94 PKR 1,652

2.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 PKR 926

$2.49 PKR 691

33.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.52 PKR 1,256

$4.24 PKR 1,178

6.60%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.07 PKR 298

-7.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.56 PKR 155

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.57 PKR 158

61.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.52 PKR 145

-1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.29 PKR 80.6

24.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.50 PKR 139

-2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.30 PKR 83.3

33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.38 PKR 4,554

$1.42 PKR 395

1053.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 285

$0.36 PKR 101

183.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 635

$2.15 PKR 598

6.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 530

$0.72 PKR 201

163.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.9

$0.18 PKR 49.40

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,646

$5.36 PKR 1,491

77.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.33 PKR 92.5

154.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.65 PKR 180

-49.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 PKR 854

$1.72 PKR 479

78.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.96 PKR 266

-5.21%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-19.18%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

86.50%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

90.79%

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

$4.12 PKR 1,146

$6.38 PKR 1,774

-35.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.38 PKR 4,555

$13.98 PKR 3,887

17.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.15 PKR 2,821

$5.09 PKR 1,415

99.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.73 PKR 2,150

$5.81 PKR 1,614

33.05%

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 PKR 1,005

$2.89 PKR 804

24.91%

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

$40.70 PKR 11.3K

$35.09 PKR 9,756

15.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$965 PKR 268.4K

$424 PKR 117.8K

127.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.77 PKR 3,273

$7.22 PKR 2,006

63.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.65 PKR 5,184

$6.98 PKR 1,941

167.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 PKR 25.0K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.17 PKR 7,832

$29.19 PKR 8,116

-3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 37.0K

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

90.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.5 PKR 18.2K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

29.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 PKR 92.6K

$157 PKR 43.7K

111.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 PKR 47.9K

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

80.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 PKR 314.2K

$381 PKR 106.0K

196.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 142.1K

$220 PKR 61.3K

131.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.2K

$213 PKR 59.3K

-18.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

68.08%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 6, 2026

Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Rawalpindi versus $69.9 in Quetta. 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 23% higher in Quetta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $84.0 – making Quetta 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 Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $641 per month in Rawalpindi and $527 in Quetta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 13% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Rawalpindi and $11.00 in Quetta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $427 in Rawalpindi and $352 in Quetta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quetta – 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 Quetta. 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.