🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $353 in Shivamogga versus $495 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $571 in Shivamogga versus $781 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $790 in Shivamogga versus $1,067 in Rawalpindi.
🌍Living in Shivamogga costs roughly 29% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Shivamogga74% lower, Rawalpindi64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66₹254
$2.05PKR 569
29.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.32₹1,273
$16.07PKR 4,452
-17.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.68₹447
$5.84PKR 1,617
-19.86%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.76PKR 487
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.50PKR 971
-
Cappuccino
$1.20₹114
$1.98PKR 549
-39.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₹34.05
$0.44PKR 121
-18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18₹17.61
$0.25PKR 69.4
-28.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.14₹108
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59₹248
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49₹47.23
$0.91PKR 251
-46.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41₹39.30
$0.54PKR 151
-24.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66₹62.7
$1.23PKR 340
-46.34%
Eggs
$0.88₹84.2
$1.11PKR 308
-20.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.90₹372
$6.32PKR 1,752
-38.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83₹270
$3.57PKR 990
-20.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$5.05PKR 1,398
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.68₹161
$1.20PKR 331
40.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62₹58.8
$0.84PKR 232
-26.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.46₹43.66
$1.22PKR 338
-62.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.38₹36.43
$0.53PKR 146
-28.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30₹28.50
$0.36PKR 99.5
-16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39₹36.95
$0.45PKR 124
-13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.20₹19.06
$0.31PKR 84.9
-35.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹29.02
$0.43PKR 118
-30.23%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$16.09PKR 4,458
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14PKR 316
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37PKR 657
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.04₹482
$1.93PKR 535
161.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.81₹650
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89₹85.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78₹266
-
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.86₹464
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14₹13.35
$0.18PKR 50.4
-22.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.99PKR 2,767
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02₹97.2
$0.93PKR 258
9.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31₹29.17
$0.35PKR 96.1
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.45₹138
$3.11PKR 861
-53.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₹105
$1.13PKR 313
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.3K₹1.2M
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
-31.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K₹2.8M
$24.1KPKR 6.7M
22.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.23₹2,029
$113PKR 31.2K
-81.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.47₹236
$5.55PKR 1,537
-55.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.71₹736
$18.88PKR 5,229
-59.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.51₹717
$12.11PKR 3,353
-37.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.14₹205
$6.81PKR 1,886
-68.58%
Cinema Ticket
$2.28₹218
$4.26PKR 1,179
-46.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$110₹10.5K
$48.70PKR 13.5K
125.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,704₹162.8K
$833PKR 230.7K
104.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.68₹3,122
$20.41PKR 5,653
60.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57₹3,303
$28.85PKR 7,992
19.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.0₹5,540
$93.7PKR 26.0K
-38.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.38₹2,616
$36.19PKR 10.0K
-24.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$159₹15.2K
$201PKR 55.6K
-20.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$81.6₹7,793
$83.0PKR 23.0K
-1.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$317₹30.3K
$428PKR 118.6K
-25.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$192₹18.3K
$226PKR 62.6K
-15.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,170PKR 324.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$507PKR 140.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shivamogga
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$340₹32.4K
$173PKR 48.0K
95.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.12
22.81
-60.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shivamogga: September 12, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Shivamogga and $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shivamogga pays 96% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $13.00 in Shivamogga vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $103 per month, with Shivamogga 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
Shivamogga vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Shivamogga and in Rawalpindi?
Shivamogga and Rawalpindi differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($353 vs $495 including rent). Shivamogga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Shivamogga or Rawalpindi?
Average pay runs 96% higher in Shivamogga, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Shivamogga and in Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $159 in Shivamogga versus $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Shivamogga and Rawalpindi?
Childcare runs $110 in Shivamogga versus $48.70 in Rawalpindi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Shivamogga – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $800 go in Shivamogga compared to Rawalpindi?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga and Rawalpindi?
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.
Is Shivamogga or Rawalpindi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Shivamogga and Rawalpindi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Shivamogga or Rawalpindi?
Expats usually find Shivamogga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Shivamogga vs other spots: cost of living compared