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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $382 in Skardu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $573 in Skardu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $765 in Skardu.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 12% more expensive than Skardu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Skardu 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.75 PKR 488

1.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,958

$10.62 PKR 2,956

33.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,471

$4.11 PKR 1,144

28.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.80 PKR 500

-14.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$3.60 PKR 1,001

-5.56%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$0.46 PKR 128

276.09%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.35 PKR 96.2

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.23 PKR 64.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.73 PKR 202

8.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.60 PKR 167

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.21 PKR 338

1.65%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.12 PKR 312

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,694

$6.15 PKR 1,710

-0.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.55 PKR 710

32.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.63 PKR 1,011

25.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.04 PKR 289

-1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.66 PKR 183

1.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.61 PKR 170

50.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.49 PKR 136

-4.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.37 PKR 104

-10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.47 PKR 131

10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.31 PKR 86.2

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.36 PKR 100

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,575

$1.36 PKR 378

1108.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.87 PKR 241

19.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 670

$2.04 PKR 568

18.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.38

$0.19 PKR 54.3

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,752

$6.91 PKR 1,923

43.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.90 PKR 250

1.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.6

$0.41 PKR 114

-14.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.75 PKR 486

69.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.98 PKR 273

-2.04%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-15.28%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

-0.30%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$102 PKR 28.4K

-1.58%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$7.18 PKR 1,999

-44.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,631

$11.13 PKR 3,096

49.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,822

$12.57 PKR 3,498

-19.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$5.83 PKR 1,624

31.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$3.61 PKR 1,006

-0.28%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$29.43 PKR 8,188

35.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.7K

$1,094 PKR 304.5K

-12.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,283

$15.31 PKR 4,259

-22.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,244

$22.03 PKR 6,131

-14.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$69.1 PKR 19.2K

27.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,899

$29.47 PKR 8,200

-3.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

75.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

27.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.2K

$167 PKR 46.5K

93.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$108 PKR 30.0K

60.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.5K

$917 PKR 255.1K

27.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$567 PKR 157.9K

-9.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Skardu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $74.0 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 $86.0 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 12% in total monthly costs ($429 vs $382 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $644 in Rawalpindi and $573 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 $74.0 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 $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $382 in Skardu – a 12% 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 12% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.