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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $495 per month in Rawalpindi vs $420 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $781 per month in Rawalpindi vs $617 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,067 per month in Rawalpindi vs $814 in Quetta, rent included.

Rawalpindi costs about 18% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rawalpindi and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Rawalpindi 64% lower, Quetta 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 PKR 569

$3.70 PKR 1,026

-44.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.07 PKR 4,452

$10.78 PKR 2,987

49.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PKR 1,617

$4.53 PKR 1,255

28.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$1.81 PKR 502

-2.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 PKR 971

$5.27 PKR 1,460

-33.59%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 549

$1.59 PKR 442

24.53%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.39 PKR 107

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.20 PKR 54.4

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.69 PKR 192

31.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.56 PKR 155

-3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.23 PKR 341

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.22 PKR 337

-9.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,752

$4.93 PKR 1,366

28.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.83 PKR 785

26.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 PKR 1,398

$5.12 PKR 1,419

-1.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$0.93 PKR 258

29.03%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.57 PKR 159

47.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$0.69 PKR 190

76.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.55 PKR 153

-3.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.5

$0.30 PKR 82.0

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.56 PKR 156

-19.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.43 PKR 118

-27.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.39 PKR 108

10.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.09 PKR 4,458

$1.75 PKR 485

819.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.08 PKR 300

5.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 657

$2.84 PKR 788

-16.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.09 PKR 579

-7.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.5

$0.13 PKR 36.35

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,767

$10.27 PKR 2,845

-2.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.04 PKR 288

-10.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.1

$0.43 PKR 120

-18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 PKR 861

$1.78 PKR 493

74.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.07 PKR 296

5.61%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

-25.52%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

-0.51%

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

$113 PKR 31.2K

$103 PKR 28.5K

9.58%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,537

$8.11 PKR 2,246

-31.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 PKR 5,229

$16.41 PKR 4,547

15.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 PKR 3,354

$5.78 PKR 1,602

109.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,179

$3.33 PKR 923

27.93%

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

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

$34.78 PKR 9,635

40.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$833 PKR 230.8K

$995 PKR 275.5K

-16.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.41 PKR 5,653

$8.08 PKR 2,237

152.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 PKR 7,993

$22.81 PKR 6,318

26.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 PKR 26.0K

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

32.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

$34.10 PKR 9,446

6.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.6K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

181.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

67.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 PKR 118.6K

$165 PKR 45.8K

158.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

126.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,170 PKR 324.1K

$376 PKR 104.3K

210.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 PKR 140.5K

$219 PKR 60.6K

131.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$274 PKR 75.9K

-36.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

12.88

77.10%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Rawalpindi versus $71.4 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 58% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi versus $11.00 in Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $89.0 – 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 18%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $742 per month in Rawalpindi and $630 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 16% 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 $16.00 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 $495 in Rawalpindi and $420 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.