Cost of Living Comparison Between Skardu and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Skardu and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $382 in Skardu versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $573 in Skardu versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $765 in Skardu versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Skardu costs roughly 11% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Skardu 71% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 488

$1.78 PKR 496

-1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.62 PKR 2,956

$14.22 PKR 3,958

-25.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 PKR 1,144

$5.29 PKR 1,471

-22.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.54 PKR 429

16.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 1,001

$3.40 PKR 947

5.88%

Cappuccino

$0.46 PKR 128

$1.73 PKR 481

-73.41%

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

$0.35 PKR 96.2

$0.32 PKR 88.9

9.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 PKR 202

$0.79 PKR 219

-7.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.57 PKR 158

5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.23 PKR 343

-1.63%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.12 PKR 311

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PKR 1,710

$6.09 PKR 1,694

0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.55 PKR 710

$3.39 PKR 944

-24.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.63 PKR 1,011

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-20.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.02 PKR 283

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.67 PKR 186

-1.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.92 PKR 257

-33.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.47 PKR 132

4.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.33 PKR 93.2

12.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.52 PKR 145

-9.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.26 PKR 72.8

19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.37 PKR 102

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.36 PKR 378

$16.44 PKR 4,575

-91.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 241

$1.04 PKR 289

-16.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

$2.41 PKR 670

-15.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 54.3

$0.18 PKR 49.38

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,923

$9.89 PKR 2,752

-30.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.91 PKR 253

-1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.35 PKR 97.6

17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 486

$2.97 PKR 826

-41.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.96 PKR 267

2.08%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

18.03%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

0.30%

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

$102 PKR 28.4K

$100 PKR 28.0K

1.60%

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

$7.18 PKR 1,999

$3.99 PKR 1,111

79.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.13 PKR 3,096

$16.64 PKR 4,631

-33.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.57 PKR 3,498

$10.14 PKR 2,822

23.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 PKR 1,624

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-23.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 PKR 1,006

$3.60 PKR 1,003

0.28%

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

$29.43 PKR 8,188

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-25.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 PKR 304.5K

$962 PKR 267.7K

13.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.31 PKR 4,259

$11.80 PKR 3,283

29.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.03 PKR 6,131

$18.84 PKR 5,244

16.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 PKR 19.2K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-21.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.47 PKR 8,200

$28.38 PKR 7,899

3.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-42.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-21.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.5K

$324 PKR 90.2K

-48.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-37.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$917 PKR 255.1K

$1,173 PKR 326.5K

-21.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$567 PKR 157.9K

$516 PKR 143.6K

9.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-5.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Skardu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.0 in Skardu and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Skardu vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $86.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Skardu 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

Skardu vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skardu and Rawalpindi differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($382 vs $429 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $573 in Skardu and $644 in Rawalpindi 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $74.0 in Skardu versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Skardu – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $382 per month in Skardu versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Skardu 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, Skardu 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.

Expats usually find Skardu 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.