Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Skardu Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Skardu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $425 in Rawalpindi versus $377 in Skardu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $576 in Skardu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $914 in Rawalpindi versus $775 in Skardu.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 13% more expensive than in Skardu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.79 PKR 497

-3.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,952

$10.50 PKR 2,916

35.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 PKR 1,433

$4.14 PKR 1,149

24.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 PKR 431

$1.73 PKR 479

-10.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 943

$3.59 PKR 998

-5.29%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 476

$0.42 PKR 117

307.14%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.34 PKR 94.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.77 PKR 215

11.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.56 PKR 155

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.21 PKR 336

6.61%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.17 PKR 324

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.23 PKR 1,731

$6.00 PKR 1,665

3.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 PKR 921

$2.60 PKR 721

27.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.52 PKR 1,254

$3.71 PKR 1,031

21.83%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.05 PKR 290

-10.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.66 PKR 183

-3.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.67 PKR 186

37.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.49 PKR 135

2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.35 PKR 95.9

2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.50 PKR 140

-4.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.6

$0.31 PKR 85.6

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.36 PKR 100

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.39 PKR 4,552

$1.55 PKR 429

957.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.93 PKR 259

9.68%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 633

$2.02 PKR 560

12.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 550

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.1

$0.20 PKR 56.5

5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.78 PKR 2,716

$7.10 PKR 1,972

37.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 PKR 241

$0.84 PKR 233

3.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.40 PKR 111

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.78 PKR 495

66.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.96 PKR 265

1.04%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-18.00%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

0.79%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$102 PKR 28.3K

0.68%

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

$4.03 PKR 1,118

$7.09 PKR 1,969

-43.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.21 PKR 4,500

$11.40 PKR 3,165

42.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.17 PKR 2,824

$12.46 PKR 3,458

-18.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.48 PKR 2,076

$6.02 PKR 1,670

24.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.59 PKR 997

$3.62 PKR 1,006

-0.83%

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

$40.91 PKR 11.4K

$29.27 PKR 8,128

39.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$955 PKR 265.1K

$1,105 PKR 306.7K

-13.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.81 PKR 3,279

$15.31 PKR 4,250

-22.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.85 PKR 5,232

$21.94 PKR 6,091

-14.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 PKR 24.6K

$68.7 PKR 19.1K

28.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.57 PKR 7,933

$28.93 PKR 8,033

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.0K

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

75.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 PKR 18.3K

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

24.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$325 PKR 90.2K

$168 PKR 46.7K

93.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 PKR 47.8K

$108 PKR 29.9K

60.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,167 PKR 324.0K

$974 PKR 270.5K

19.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 144.3K

$484 PKR 134.2K

7.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 PKR 47.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

6.16%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 19, 2026

Last update for Skardu: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $73.9 in Skardu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Skardu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $87.0 per month, with Skardu 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 Skardu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Skardu differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($425 vs $377 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $637 in Rawalpindi and $566 in Skardu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $73.9 in Skardu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Skardu – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $425 per month in Rawalpindi versus $377 in Skardu – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Skardu 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 Skardu 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 Skardu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.