Cost of Living Comparison Between Thiruvananthapuram and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Thiruvananthapuram and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Estimated couple costs with rent: $604 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $827 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Thiruvananthapuram costs roughly 11% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Thiruvananthapuram 72% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 ₹218

$1.78 PKR 496

27.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.73 ₹1,315

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-3.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.31 ₹413

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-18.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₹172

$1.73 PKR 481

4.05%

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

$0.33 ₹32.00

$0.32 PKR 88.9

3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₹22.04

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₹164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ₹332

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 ₹57.2

$0.79 PKR 219

-24.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₹51.6

$0.57 PKR 158

-5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.63 ₹60.7

$1.23 PKR 343

-48.78%

Eggs

$0.99 ₹95.1

$1.12 PKR 311

-11.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.93 ₹568

$6.09 PKR 1,693

-2.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.40 ₹230

$3.39 PKR 944

-29.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 ₹231

$1.02 PKR 283

137.25%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 ₹68.3

$0.67 PKR 186

5.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 ₹122

$0.92 PKR 257

38.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 ₹55.6

$0.47 PKR 132

23.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 ₹49.75

$0.33 PKR 93.2

57.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₹58.4

$0.52 PKR 144

17.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 ₹48.81

$0.26 PKR 72.7

96.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹29.08

$0.37 PKR 102

-18.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.59 ₹344

$1.90 PKR 528

88.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.70 ₹641

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ₹142

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₹269

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.82 ₹462

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₹15.89

$0.18 PKR 49.36

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.36 ₹609

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-35.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 ₹91.5

$0.91 PKR 253

5.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₹171

$2.97 PKR 826

-39.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₹119

$0.96 PKR 267

29.17%

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

$18.9K ₹1.8M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

5.17%

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

$21.5K ₹2.1M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-5.63%

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

$28.02 ₹2,684

$100 PKR 28.0K

-72.11%

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

$3.39 ₹324

$3.99 PKR 1,111

-15.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.98 ₹764

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-52.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.57 ₹1,587

$10.14 PKR 2,821

63.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 ₹1,137

$7.67 PKR 2,135

54.89%

Cinema Ticket

$2.35 ₹225

$3.60 PKR 1,003

-34.72%

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

$30.59 ₹2,929

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-23.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,959 ₹187.6K

$962 PKR 267.6K

103.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.05 ₹1,729

$11.80 PKR 3,282

52.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.97 ₹1,530

$18.84 PKR 5,242

-15.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.82 ₹3,239

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-61.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$22.06 ₹2,113

$28.38 PKR 7,896

-22.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$144 ₹13.8K

$130 PKR 36.1K

10.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.9 ₹8,609

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

35.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ₹26.9K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-13.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₹16.6K

$173 PKR 48.1K

0.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$678 ₹64.9K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-42.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$428 ₹41.0K

$516 PKR 143.6K

-17.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 ₹23.1K

$171 PKR 47.6K

41.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-40.51%

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

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $144 in Thiruvananthapuram and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thiruvananthapuram pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Thiruvananthapuram vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Groceries flip the comparison at $107 vs $95.0, 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

Thiruvananthapuram vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Thiruvananthapuram pays 41% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $144 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Thiruvananthapuram – a meal for two runs $14.00 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 Thiruvananthapuram 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 $800 a month, though Thiruvananthapuram 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, Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram 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.