😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $503 in Rawalpindi versus $345 in Tumkur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Rawalpindi versus $549 in Tumkur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Rawalpindi versus $754 in Tumkur.
🌍Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 46% more expensive than in Tumkur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi64% lower, Tumkur75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 580
$1.54₹147
35.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.42PKR 4,548
$10.33₹987
58.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.81PKR 1,611
$3.19₹305
82.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84PKR 511
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48PKR 963
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.92PKR 532
$1.45₹138
32.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 111
$0.46₹44.03
-13.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 69.4
$0.10₹9.86
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.05₹196
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.62₹155
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.51₹48.96
68.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59PKR 163
$0.30₹29.02
96.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20PKR 333
$0.67₹64.0
79.10%
Eggs
$1.15PKR 318
$0.81₹77.4
41.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.21PKR 1,721
$5.30₹507
17.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.47PKR 962
$2.83₹270
22.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.18PKR 1,436
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.19PKR 329
$2.56₹244
-53.52%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.65₹62.4
30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27PKR 352
$1.16₹111
9.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.38₹36.29
50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKR 107
$0.40₹38.43
-5.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 135
$0.25₹23.72
96.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.3
$0.36₹34.35
-8.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$0.29₹27.62
44.83%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.90PKR 4,406
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18PKR 327
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44PKR 677
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94PKR 539
$5.10₹488
-61.96%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.31₹507
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66₹159
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.13₹299
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.23₹404
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 53.2
$0.25₹23.76
-24.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.07PKR 2,789
$7.38₹705
36.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94PKR 261
$1.02₹97.9
-7.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34PKR 93.9
$0.28₹27.04
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.14PKR 869
$1.59₹152
97.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17PKR 323
$1.10₹105
6.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KPKR 4.9M
$16.0K₹1.5M
10.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KPKR 6.7M
$13.9K₹1.3M
72.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.1K
$35.29₹3,372
217.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76PKR 1,594
$3.45₹330
66.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.29PKR 5,067
$5.20₹496
251.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.83PKR 3,278
$13.95₹1,333
-15.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79PKR 1,881
$6.64₹634
2.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30PKR 1,191
$2.64₹253
62.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.80PKR 13.5K
$53.8₹5,142
-9.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$852PKR 235.9K
$1,338₹127.8K
-36.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.89PKR 5,787
$18.54₹1,772
12.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.53PKR 7,903
$21.92₹2,094
30.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5PKR 25.9K
$35.43₹3,385
163.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.66PKR 9,879
$28.11₹2,685
26.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201PKR 55.7K
$122₹11.6K
65.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.3PKR 22.8K
$72.3₹6,909
13.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430PKR 119.1K
$265₹25.4K
62.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226PKR 62.6K
$168₹16.0K
34.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,149PKR 318.2K
$965₹92.2K
19.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$517PKR 143.2K
$508₹48.5K
1.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173PKR 48.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.81
9.56
138.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026
Last update for Tumkur: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $122 in Tumkur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $10.00 in Tumkur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $99.0 per month, with Tumkur 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 Tumkur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rawalpindi and in Tumkur?
Rawalpindi and Tumkur differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($503 vs $345 including rent). Tumkur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rawalpindi compared to Tumkur?
You'd need roughly $755 in Rawalpindi and $517 in Tumkur 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Rawalpindi and in Tumkur?
Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $122 in Tumkur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Tumkur – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rawalpindi or Tumkur?
All in, you'll spend $503 per month in Rawalpindi versus $345 in Tumkur – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Rawalpindi compared to Tumkur?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tumkur 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 Tumkur?
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.
Where should expats move: Rawalpindi or Tumkur?
Expats usually find Tumkur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared