Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Tagbilaran City

For one person, living is cheaper in Rawalpindi: $500 a month against $620 in Tagbilaran City, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Rawalpindi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$500
/mo nomad
Tagbilaran City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$620
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rawalpindi and in Tagbilaran City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rawalpindi and in Tagbilaran City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Rawalpindi versus $620 in Tagbilaran City.

  • Rawalpindi $500
  • Tagbilaran City $620

Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $1,005 in Tagbilaran City.

  • Rawalpindi $786
  • Tagbilaran City $1,005

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,073 in Rawalpindi versus $1,390 in Tagbilaran City.

  • Rawalpindi $1,073
  • Tagbilaran City $1,390

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 19% less than in Tagbilaran City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Tagbilaran City 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 PKR 588
$2.93 ₱185
-27.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.46 PKR 4,556
$17.16 ₱1,081
-4.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.12 PKR 1,695
$2.91 ₱183
110.31%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 PKR 493
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 PKR 938
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.93 PKR 534
$2.48 ₱156
-22.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKR 119
$0.99 ₱62.6
-56.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 63.5
$0.42 ₱26.32
-45.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.77 ₱48.77
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.25 ₱142
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 PKR 235
$1.49 ₱94.0
-42.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 PKR 163
$1.01 ₱63.8
-41.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 338
$0.98 ₱61.9
24.49%
Eggs
$1.11 PKR 308
$1.72 ₱108
-35.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.08 PKR 1,684
$9.68 ₱610
-37.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 PKR 981
$4.56 ₱287
-22.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.24 PKR 1,451
$7.70 ₱485
-31.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 333
$2.90 ₱183
-58.62%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 PKR 240
$1.31 ₱82.3
-33.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 349
$2.36 ₱149
-46.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 146
$1.52 ₱95.8
-65.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 107
$2.32 ₱146
-83.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 134
$1.90 ₱120
-74.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.32 PKR 88.5
$0.70 ₱43.81
-54.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKR 118
$0.50 ₱31.38
-14.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$16.54 PKR 4,577
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 PKR 337
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 PKR 696
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01 PKR 555
$2.37 ₱149
-15.19%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.33 ₱399
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.92 ₱58.1
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.04 ₱65.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 55.2
$0.47 ₱29.42
-57.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.70 PKR 2,685
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 PKR 239
$0.79 ₱49.99
8.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.22 ₱13.87
68.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 PKR 872
$4.38 ₱276
-28.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 PKR 344
$1.03 ₱65.1
20.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K PKR 5.2M
$21.5K ₱1.4M
-12.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K PKR 6.5M
$19.2K ₱1.2M
23.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 PKR 31.5K
$78.0 ₱4,911
45.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.84 PKR 1,616
$14.28 ₱899
-59.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.80 PKR 5,203
$25.32 ₱1,594
-25.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.23 PKR 3,385
$10.92 ₱687
12.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.45 PKR 2,063
$3.22 ₱203
131.37%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 PKR 1,180
$3.60 ₱227
18.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.61 PKR 13.5K
$280 ₱17.6K
-82.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,038 PKR 287.4K
$7,908 ₱497.9K
-86.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.45 PKR 4,831
$36.94 ₱2,326
-52.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.71 PKR 9,054
$17.89 ₱1,126
82.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.8 PKR 25.7K
$65.0 ₱4,094
42.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.95 PKR 9,949
$58.2 ₱3,665
-38.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 PKR 54.8K
$190 ₱12.0K
3.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$83.1 PKR 23.0K
$135 ₱8,524
-38.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$417 PKR 115.3K
$482 ₱30.3K
-13.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$223 PKR 61.8K
$350 ₱22.0K
-36.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,196 PKR 331.0K
$805 ₱50.7K
48.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$450 PKR 124.5K
$476 ₱30.0K
-5.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Tagbilaran City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$175 PKR 48.5K
$171 ₱10.8K
2.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.81
7.2
216.81%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Tagbilaran City: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
$138
Tagbilaran City
$118 15% $21
Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
$103
Tagbilaran City
$189 83.9% $86
Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
$83
Tagbilaran City
$135 62.9% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
$80
Tagbilaran City
$80 0.4% $0.4
Eating Out
Rawalpindi
$61
Tagbilaran City
$76 24.2% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
$21
Tagbilaran City
$18 12.7% $2.6
Getting Around
Rawalpindi
$13
Tagbilaran City
$3.8 * 71.6% $9.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Rawalpindi and $190 in Tagbilaran City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $17.00 in Tagbilaran City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $189 per month, with Rawalpindi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Rawalpindi
🇵🇭 Tagbilaran City
🕒 Local time
13:13 1:13 PM
16:13 4:13 PM
3 h ahead of Rawalpindi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,098,231
86,411
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rawalpindi Tagbilaran City 5,820 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rawalpindi
  • Tagbilaran City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tagbilaran City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rawalpindi and in Tagbilaran City?
Rawalpindi and Tagbilaran City differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $620 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rawalpindi or Tagbilaran City?
Average pay runs 2% higher in Rawalpindi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Rawalpindi and in Tagbilaran City?
Rent for a central apartment: $198 in Rawalpindi versus $190 in Tagbilaran City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rawalpindi and Tagbilaran City?
Childcare runs $48.61 in Rawalpindi versus $280 in Tagbilaran City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Rawalpindi – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $17.00 in Tagbilaran City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Rawalpindi compared to Tagbilaran City?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Rawalpindi and Tagbilaran City?
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.
Is Rawalpindi or Tagbilaran City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rawalpindi and Tagbilaran City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Rawalpindi or Tagbilaran City?
Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Tagbilaran City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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