😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $377 in Tumkur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $597 in Tumkur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $818 in Tumkur.
😐Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 14% more expensive than Tumkur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi68% lower, Tumkur72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78PKR 496
$2.29₹219
-22.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.22PKR 3,957
$8.35₹799
70.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29PKR 1,470
$3.52₹337
50.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54PKR 429
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40PKR 947
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.73PKR 481
$1.25₹120
38.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 88.9
$0.49₹47.36
-34.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.14₹13.09
64.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.27₹217
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.71₹164
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79PKR 219
$0.59₹56.7
33.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.32₹30.53
78.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 343
$0.67₹63.8
83.58%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 311
$0.83₹79.4
34.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09PKR 1,693
$8.99₹861
-32.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39PKR 944
$2.83₹271
19.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57PKR 1,271
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$2.03₹194
-49.75%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.71₹68.1
-5.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92PKR 257
$1.56₹149
-41.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 132
$0.45₹43.56
4.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 93.2
$0.49₹46.81
-32.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.30₹28.90
73.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26PKR 72.7
$0.22₹21.02
18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.41₹39.10
-9.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$16.44PKR 4,573
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04PKR 288
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41PKR 669
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 528
$2.98₹285
-36.24%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.79₹554
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80₹172
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.74₹262
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.46₹523
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.36
$0.30₹28.83
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.89PKR 2,751
$8.58₹822
15.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.59₹56.6
54.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 97.5
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97PKR 826
$1.19₹114
149.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 267
$0.78₹74.8
23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
$16.9K₹1.6M
6.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$28.8K₹2.8M
-20.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100PKR 28.0K
$34.40₹3,295
192.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99PKR 1,111
$3.45₹330
15.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.64PKR 4,630
$5.80₹555
186.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.14PKR 2,821
$15.94₹1,527
-36.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67PKR 2,135
$7.08₹678
8.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60PKR 1,003
$2.29₹219
57.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.75PKR 11.1K
$31.78₹3,044
25.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$962PKR 267.6K
$1,307₹125.2K
-26.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.80PKR 3,282
$21.63₹2,072
-45.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.84PKR 5,242
$23.43₹2,244
-19.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8PKR 24.4K
$40.27₹3,857
118.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.38PKR 7,896
$28.07₹2,689
1.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.1K
$122₹11.7K
6.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.4PKR 18.5K
$77.6₹7,431
-14.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324PKR 90.1K
$275₹26.4K
17.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173PKR 48.1K
$183₹17.6K
-5.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,173PKR 326.4K
$986₹94.5K
18.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$516PKR 143.6K
$514₹49.3K
0.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Tumkur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171PKR 47.6K
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Tumkur: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 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 $113, 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 Tumkur?
Rawalpindi and Tumkur differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($429 vs $377 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 $644 in Rawalpindi and $565 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 Tumkur?
Rent for a central apartment: $130 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 $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $377 in Tumkur – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Rawalpindi vs 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 14% 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