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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $382 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $604 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $827 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 12% more expensive than Thiruvananthapuram, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.27 ₹218

-21.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$13.73 ₹1,315

3.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$4.31 ₹413

22.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.80 ₹172

-3.89%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.33 ₹32.00

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.23 ₹22.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₹164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ₹332

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.60 ₹57.2

31.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.54 ₹51.6

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$0.63 ₹60.7

95.24%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$0.99 ₹95.1

13.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$5.93 ₹568

2.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.40 ₹230

41.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$2.42 ₹231

-57.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.71 ₹68.3

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$1.27 ₹122

-27.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.58 ₹55.6

-18.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.52 ₹49.75

-36.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.61 ₹58.4

-14.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.51 ₹48.81

-49.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.30 ₹29.08

23.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$3.59 ₹344

-47.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.70 ₹641

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ₹142

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₹269

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

$4.82 ₹462

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.17 ₹15.89

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$6.36 ₹609

55.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.96 ₹91.5

-5.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.79 ₹171

65.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$1.24 ₹119

-22.58%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$18.9K ₹1.8M

-4.92%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.5K ₹2.1M

5.97%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$28.02 ₹2,684

258.60%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$3.39 ₹324

17.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$7.98 ₹764

108.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$16.57 ₹1,587

-38.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$11.88 ₹1,137

-35.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$2.35 ₹225

53.19%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$30.59 ₹2,929

29.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,959 ₹187.6K

-50.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$18.05 ₹1,729

-34.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$15.97 ₹1,530

17.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$33.82 ₹3,239

159.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$22.06 ₹2,113

28.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$144 ₹13.8K

-9.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$89.9 ₹8,609

-26.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$281 ₹26.9K

15.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$173 ₹16.6K

-0.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$678 ₹64.9K

73.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$428 ₹41.0K

20.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$241 ₹23.1K

-29.14%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $144 in Thiruvananthapuram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thiruvananthapuram pays 41% 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 $107 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 12% in total monthly costs ($429 vs $382 including rent). Thiruvananthapuram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Thiruvananthapuram earns 41% less. 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: $130 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 $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $382 in Thiruvananthapuram – a 12% 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 12% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.