Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Shivamogga Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Shivamogga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $431 in Rawalpindi versus $377 in Shivamogga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $665 in Rawalpindi versus $603 in Shivamogga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $899 in Rawalpindi versus $828 in Shivamogga.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 14% more expensive than in Shivamogga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 497

$3.21 ₹306

-44.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.27 PKR 3,959

$15.38 ₹1,467

-7.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 PKR 1,460

$5.19 ₹495

1.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 PKR 445

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 950

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 460

$1.32 ₹126

25.76%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.35 ₹33.84

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.23 ₹22.00

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₹125

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₹270

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.56 ₹53.8

41.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.49 ₹46.75

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$0.79 ₹75.7

64.56%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$0.84 ₹80.0

35.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 PKR 1,660

$4.44 ₹424

34.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 906

$3.10 ₹296

5.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,240

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$2.16 ₹206

-52.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.73 ₹69.5

-13.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.50 ₹47.74

68.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.42 ₹40.44

19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.41 ₹39.14

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.46 ₹43.98

13.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.24 ₹22.98

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.43 ₹40.95

-6.98%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.96 PKR 4,429

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 658

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 533

$3.43 ₹327

-44.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.73 ₹642

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₹90.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₹165

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.47 ₹426

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.6

$0.30 ₹28.83

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 PKR 2,663

$8.92 ₹850

7.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.14 ₹108

-25.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 PKR 858

$2.30 ₹220

34.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$1.14 ₹109

-16.67%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$11.2K ₹1.1M

56.53%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$32.0K ₹3.0M

-28.37%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$23.10 ₹2,203

336.15%

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

$3.96 PKR 1,100

$1.93 ₹184

105.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.35 PKR 4,537

$8.93 ₹852

83.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.86 PKR 2,736

$8.19 ₹781

20.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 PKR 2,060

$6.96 ₹664

6.61%

Cinema Ticket

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.49 ₹238

43.37%

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

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

$52.3 ₹4,989

-21.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$963 PKR 267.2K

$1,937 ₹184.7K

-50.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.74 PKR 3,258

$33.31 ₹3,177

-64.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.96 PKR 5,263

$28.75 ₹2,742

-34.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$50.3 ₹4,794

78.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.12 PKR 8,081

$24.25 ₹2,313

20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$122 ₹11.7K

8.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

$86.0 ₹8,201

-22.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.8K

$276 ₹26.4K

20.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$180 ₹17.2K

-3.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

$344 ₹32.8K

-48.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

8.47

138.13%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Shivamogga: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $122 in Shivamogga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shivamogga pays 96% 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 $15.00 in Shivamogga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Rawalpindi 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 Shivamogga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Shivamogga differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($431 vs $377 including rent). Shivamogga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 96% lower in Shivamogga. 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $122 in Shivamogga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Shivamogga – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $431 per month in Rawalpindi versus $377 in Shivamogga – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Shivamogga 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.

Safety-wise, Rawalpindi and Shivamogga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Shivamogga 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.