Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Thiruvananthapuram Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Thiruvananthapuram

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $375 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $604 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $832 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 17% more expensive than in Thiruvananthapuram, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Thiruvananthapuram 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.34 ₹226

-22.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$13.93 ₹1,343

0.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$4.32 ₹417

25.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.77 ₹171

-3.39%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.33 ₹32.07

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 ₹20.18

9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 ₹164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₹325

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.59 ₹57.0

45.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.54 ₹52.4

-1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$0.62 ₹59.8

109.68%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$0.92 ₹88.7

21.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$5.67 ₹547

6.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$2.44 ₹235

40.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$2.47 ₹238

-59.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.78 ₹74.7

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.27 ₹122

-33.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.64 ₹61.5

-26.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.51 ₹49.28

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.59 ₹57.4

-11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.48 ₹46.28

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.30 ₹28.95

30.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$3.50 ₹338

-45.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.14 ₹495

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₹141

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₹266

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

$4.97 ₹480

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.17 ₹16.49

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$6.43 ₹620

48.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.00 ₹96.8

-14.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.70 ₹164

71.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.24 ₹120

-21.77%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$18.3K ₹1.8M

-3.47%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.5K ₹2.1M

5.99%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$28.39 ₹2,738

265.23%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$3.52 ₹340

14.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$7.57 ₹730

119.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$16.42 ₹1,583

-39.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$11.57 ₹1,116

-35.78%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$2.29 ₹221

51.53%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$29.93 ₹2,886

34.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,946 ₹187.7K

-51.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$18.10 ₹1,745

-34.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$16.14 ₹1,557

14.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$34.13 ₹3,291

162.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$22.06 ₹2,127

31.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$144 ₹13.8K

-7.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$89.3 ₹8,607

-27.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$282 ₹27.2K

17.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$176 ₹17.0K

-2.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$684 ₹65.9K

71.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$418 ₹40.3K

23.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$238 ₹22.9K

-26.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

68.08%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $144 in Thiruvananthapuram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thiruvananthapuram pays 36% 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 $14.00 in Thiruvananthapuram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $103 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 Thiruvananthapuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Thiruvananthapuram differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($437 vs $375 including rent). Thiruvananthapuram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Thiruvananthapuram. 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 $144 in Thiruvananthapuram. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $375 in Thiruvananthapuram – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.