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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $423 per month in Rawalpindi vs $348 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $670 per month in Rawalpindi vs $548 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $917 per month in Rawalpindi vs $747 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 487

$3.45 PKR 962

-49.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.30 PKR 3,985

$10.48 PKR 2,922

36.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 PKR 1,501

$4.53 PKR 1,264

18.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 PKR 454

$1.81 PKR 503

-9.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 985

$1.55 PKR 433

127.74%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 477

$1.66 PKR 463

3.01%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.8

$0.46 PKR 128

-32.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.20 PKR 55.7

5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 238

$0.68 PKR 190

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.44 PKR 122

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 360

$1.03 PKR 288

25.24%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 329

$1.13 PKR 314

4.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,724

$6.18 PKR 1,723

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 PKR 959

$2.59 PKR 721

32.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.46 PKR 1,244

$4.21 PKR 1,174

5.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 280

$1.03 PKR 287

-2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.52 PKR 146

23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.56 PKR 156

53.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.51 PKR 143

-5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.31 PKR 87.0

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.50 PKR 140

-2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.3

$0.35 PKR 98.1

-31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.32 PKR 90.4

12.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.92 PKR 4,437

$1.45 PKR 403

997.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 277

$0.34 PKR 94.1

191.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 PKR 643

$2.10 PKR 585

9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 541

$0.69 PKR 193

181.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.8

$0.18 PKR 50.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 PKR 2,774

$5.42 PKR 1,512

83.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.37 PKR 102

127.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.65 PKR 182

-46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 PKR 856

$1.82 PKR 507

68.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.96 PKR 268

1.04%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-16.78%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$12.4K PKR 3.5M

86.28%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$53.8 PKR 15.0K

90.97%

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

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$6.39 PKR 1,781

-38.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.31 PKR 4,545

$14.35 PKR 4,001

13.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 PKR 2,784

$4.99 PKR 1,390

100.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 PKR 2,097

$6.00 PKR 1,673

25.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 PKR 1,015

$2.80 PKR 780

30.00%

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

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$34.87 PKR 9,721

14.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$953 PKR 265.7K

$426 PKR 118.6K

123.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 PKR 3,246

$7.22 PKR 2,013

61.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.40 PKR 5,131

$7.20 PKR 2,007

155.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

$87.5 PKR 24.4K

1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.47 PKR 7,937

$29.40 PKR 8,196

-3.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.2K

$71.0 PKR 19.8K

82.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

$48.89 PKR 13.6K

31.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 91.2K

$160 PKR 44.5K

105.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 PKR 48.5K

$98.4 PKR 27.4K

76.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 PKR 323.0K

$384 PKR 107.0K

201.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 PKR 145.4K

$221 PKR 61.6K

135.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 PKR 48.4K

$216 PKR 60.2K

-19.65%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Rawalpindi versus $71.0 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 24% 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 $10.00 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 $635 per month in Rawalpindi and $522 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 12% 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 $10.00 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 $423 in Rawalpindi and $348 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.