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: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $437 in Skardu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $661 in Skardu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $885 in Skardu.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 15% more expensive than in Skardu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Skardu 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$2.38 PKR 660

-10.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,415

$12.05 PKR 3,341

32.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,633

$4.76 PKR 1,319

23.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.81 PKR 778

-35.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 976

$5.06 PKR 1,403

-30.43%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 537

$1.44 PKR 399

34.72%

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

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.39 PKR 107

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.23 PKR 64.6

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.87 PKR 242

3.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.59 PKR 164

-6.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.15 PKR 320

6.96%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.23 PKR 340

-9.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,708

$6.30 PKR 1,745

-2.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 988

$2.53 PKR 701

41.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,446

$5.19 PKR 1,439

0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.12 PKR 309

1.79%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.59 PKR 163

45.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$0.74 PKR 205

66.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.46 PKR 128

23.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.31 PKR 86.8

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.33 PKR 90.5

39.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.33 PKR 90.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.38 PKR 104

5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,514

$1.77 PKR 492

819.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.02 PKR 283

17.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.76 PKR 765

-10.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 534

$1.91 PKR 530

1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.62

$0.18 PKR 48.91

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,806

$8.63 PKR 2,393

17.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.18 PKR 328

-22.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.77 PKR 213

-50.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 876

$1.70 PKR 470

85.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$1.13 PKR 313

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

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$19.3K PKR 5.4M

-5.65%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$22.2K PKR 6.1M

12.64%

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

$115 PKR 31.9K

$103 PKR 28.5K

11.75%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,522

$3.60 PKR 998

52.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,175

$13.74 PKR 3,810

35.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,361

$14.51 PKR 4,023

-16.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,871

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$3.93 PKR 1,089

8.91%

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

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$46.28 PKR 12.8K

4.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 233.9K

$951 PKR 263.8K

-11.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,780

$13.70 PKR 3,798

52.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,770

$19.12 PKR 5,302

46.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$82.6 PKR 22.9K

10.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$28.62 PKR 7,935

26.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.6K

$127 PKR 35.1K

61.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

23.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.5K

$253 PKR 70.1K

73.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$162 PKR 44.9K

39.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

$901 PKR 249.8K

29.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.0K

$469 PKR 129.9K

9.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

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 1, 2026

Last update for Skardu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Rawalpindi and $127 in Skardu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $12.00 in Skardu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $93.0 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 15% in total monthly costs ($504 vs $437 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $756 in Rawalpindi and $656 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: $204 in Rawalpindi versus $127 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 $12.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $504 per month in Rawalpindi versus $437 in Skardu – a 15% 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 15% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.