😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $374 in Tumkur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $597 in Tumkur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $820 in Tumkur.
🌍Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 17% more expensive than in Tumkur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi67% lower, Tumkur72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$2.31₹223
-21.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.95PKR 3,873
$8.23₹793
69.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40PKR 1,499
$3.59₹346
50.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56PKR 433
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 980
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 474
$1.28₹124
33.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$0.46₹44.46
-32.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.9
$0.11₹10.54
109.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.37₹229
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.70₹164
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.57₹54.8
50.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53PKR 146
$0.34₹32.83
55.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PKR 361
$0.73₹70.2
78.08%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 312
$0.82₹79.4
36.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,674
$9.20₹887
-34.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKR 953
$2.83₹273
21.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.40PKR 1,221
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 280
$1.99₹191
-49.25%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.75₹72.4
-8.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$1.49₹144
-42.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 129
$0.42₹40.35
11.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.46₹44.25
-26.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$0.30₹29.10
73.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.0
$0.24₹23.22
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.44₹42.06
-11.36%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.04PKR 4,454
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 274
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40PKR 666
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91PKR 531
$2.93₹282
-34.81%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.78₹557
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78₹172
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.82₹272
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.51₹531
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.1
$0.30₹29.11
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.52PKR 2,645
$8.52₹821
11.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86PKR 240
$0.60₹57.9
43.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32PKR 89.7
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92PKR 811
$1.14₹110
156.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 270
$0.83₹79.6
16.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$17.0K₹1.6M
3.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$29.5K₹2.8M
-22.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.8K
$34.26₹3,304
202.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04PKR 1,121
$3.33₹321
21.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.63PKR 4,618
$5.75₹554
189.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.97PKR 2,768
$16.20₹1,563
-38.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43PKR 2,062
$6.83₹659
8.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.47PKR 964
$2.27₹219
52.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.20PKR 11.2K
$32.15₹3,100
25.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$948PKR 263.3K
$1,304₹125.8K
-27.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90PKR 3,304
$21.90₹2,112
-45.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.45PKR 5,124
$23.81₹2,296
-22.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PKR 24.9K
$39.95₹3,853
124.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.00PKR 8,052
$27.86₹2,687
4.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$133PKR 36.8K
$122₹11.7K
9.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.1PKR 18.1K
$77.4₹7,465
-15.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330PKR 91.6K
$274₹26.4K
20.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171PKR 47.4K
$183₹17.6K
-6.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,176PKR 326.5K
$994₹95.9K
18.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$518PKR 143.8K
$521₹50.2K
-0.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175PKR 48.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
9.47
112.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Last update for Tumkur: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $122 in Tumkur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $8.00 in Tumkur. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 vs $114, with Rawalpindi cheaper for home cooking.
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 17% in total monthly costs ($437 vs $374 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 $656 in Rawalpindi and $561 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: $133 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 $8.00 versus $14.00 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 $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $374 in Tumkur – a 17% 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 17% 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