Cost Of Living For a Family in Rawalpindi 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Rawalpindi

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Rawalpindi?

Families in Rawalpindi spend around 640,000 PKR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 220,000 PKR or as high as 4.1M PKR. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Rawalpindi

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Rawalpindi

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Rawalpindi spend around 100% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 94% of their income while some as high as 110%.

How do families spend their money in Rawalpindi?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Rawalpindi typically spend from 20% to 35% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 200,000 PKR with expenditure ranging from 71,000 PKR to 1.3M PKR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Rawalpindi ranges from 4% to 9% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 32,000 PKR with 11,000 PKR and 210,000 PKR being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 22,000 PKR to 410,000 PKR in a month on commuting with 64,000 PKR being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 7%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Rawalpindi is 110,000 PKR. The cost of groceries can range between 40,000 PKR to 740,000 PKR. Families spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Rawalpindi allocate 7% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 20,000 PKR to 330,000 PKR with 64,000 PKR being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 11,000 PKR to 210,000 PKR with 32,000 PKR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 89,000 PKR per month with 31,000 PKR being the minimum spent amount and 580,000 PKR being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Rawalpindi are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 51% of surveyed families in Rawalpindi said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 49% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 7.7% to 29% of their monthly income to their savings, with 14% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 180,000 PKR with 65,000 PKR and 1.2M PKR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Rawalpindi

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Rawalpindi. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 13% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 21% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Rawalpindi

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Rawalpindi

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Rawalpindi?

Around 47% of surveyed families think that living in Rawalpindi is affordable with proper budgeting while 53% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Rawalpindi

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options56%

Few low-cost options44%

Based on the survey, 56% of the families living in Rawalpindi have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Rawalpindi whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes42%

No58%

Based on the survey, 58% of the families living in Rawalpindi said that they don't have an emergency fund while 42% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Pakistan

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy38%

We asked family guardians and parents in Rawalpindi whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 62% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 38% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Pakistan have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 67% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 33% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance67%

Easily manages finances33%

Financial goals of families in Rawalpindi

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Rawalpindi, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 43% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 6% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 14% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Rawalpindi

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 41% of the families in Rawalpindi have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 60% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Rawalpindi

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 36% of a family's monthly income in Rawalpindi goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Rawalpindi pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 19% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 15% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 17% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 10% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Rawalpindi

8% of debtors in Rawalpindi confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 30% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 14% of people and personal loans rose at 44%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Rawalpindi.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Rawalpindi

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Rawalpindi how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Rawalpindi

Rent Cost in Rawalpindi

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

34,000 PKR

51,000 PKR

140,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120

$180

$490

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

51,000 PKR

82,000 PKR

210,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180

$290

$730

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

68,000 PKR

100,000 PKR

270,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$240

$370

$980

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

82,000 PKR

140,000 PKR

370,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$490

$1,300

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

160,000 PKR

410,000 PKR

820,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$590

$1,500

$2,900

Townhouse monthly rent cost

140,000 PKR

210,000 PKR

590,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$490

$730

$2,100

House monthly rent cost

160,000 PKR

410,000 PKR

820,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$590

$1,500

$2,900

Villa monthly rent cost

210,000 PKR

510,000 PKR

820,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$730

$1,800

$2,900

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Rawalpindi ranges between 34,000 PKR and 140,000 PKR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 51,000 PKR to 210,000 PKR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 68,000 PKR and 270,000 PKR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 82,000 PKR to 370,000 PKR. The average rent of a townhouse in Rawalpindi is around 210,000 PKR while house rental costs can be as high as 410,000 PKR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 210,000 PKR to 820,000 PKR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Rawalpindi

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

6.8M PKR

10M PKR

21M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$24,000

$37,000

$73,000

1-bedroom apartment price

8.2M PKR

14M PKR

51M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$29,000

$49,000

$180,000

2-bedroom apartment price

14M PKR

41M PKR

82M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$49,000

$150,000

$290,000

3-bedroom apartment price

46M PKR

68M PKR

210M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160,000

$240,000

$730,000

Townhouse price

59M PKR

140M PKR

510M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210,000

$490,000

$1.8M

House price

68M PKR

410M PKR

590M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$240,000

$1.5M

$2.1M

Villa price

82M PKR

460M PKR

680M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290,000

$1.6M

$2.4M

The average price of a studio apartment in Rawalpindi can range from 6.8M PKR to 21M PKR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 8.2M PKR to 51M PKR. A villa can cost you 460M PKR on average with prices ranging from 82M PKR to 680M PKR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Rawalpindi can be x84 to x204 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x84 multiples of the average monthly salary in Rawalpindi.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Rawalpindi is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 42% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Rawalpindi

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Rawalpindi

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

11,000 PKR

32,000 PKR

210,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$40

$110

$740

Internet and cable cost

1,900 PKR

3,900 PKR

5,200 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.9

$14

$19

Mobile phone bill and charges

1,600 PKR

2,600 PKR

7,800 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.6

$9.3

$28

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 32,000 PKR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 1,900 PKR to 5,200 PKR with 3,900 PKR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 2,600 PKR but can range between 1,600 PKR and 7,800 PKR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Rawalpindi is around 7.7%. This means that people pay 7.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.4% to 12% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Rawalpindi

Prices and cost of goods and services in Rawalpindi

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

390 PKR

780 PKR

1,300 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$2.8

$4.6

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Rawalpindi is approximatly 780 PKR with meal cost ranging from 390 PKR to 1,300 PKR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

1,300 PKR

2,000 PKR

4,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.8

$7.1

$14

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,300 PKR and 4,000 PKR with 2,000 PKR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Rawalpindi.

Fine dining meal for one price

2,700 PKR

4,000 PKR

16,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.5

$14

$57

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 2,700 PKR to 16,000 PKR with the average cost being 4,000 PKR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Rawalpindi.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

320 PKR

520 PKR

780 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.9

$2.8

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Rawalpindi is around 520 PKR. Price ranges between 320 PKR and 780 PKR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

260 PKR

310 PKR

390 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.93

$1.1

$1.4

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Rawalpindi is 310 PKR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 390 PKR and the minimum being 260 PKR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

190 PKR

260 PKR

390 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.69

$0.93

$1.4

A dozen eggs costs around 260 PKR on average with 190 PKR and 390 PKR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

440 PKR

570 PKR

810 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2

$2.9

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Rawalpindi is between 440 PKR and 810 PKR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 570 PKR.

Pack of beef price

520 PKR

780 PKR

1,600 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.9

$2.8

$5.6

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 780 PKR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

210 PKR

290 PKR

400 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.75

$1

$1.4

A bag of rice in Rawalpindi costs around 290 PKR on average with prices rangeing between 210 PKR and 400 PKR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

78 PKR

100 PKR

190 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.28

$0.37

$0.69

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 78 PKR to 190 PKR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

140 PKR

180 PKR

300 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.50

$0.65

$1.1

A bag of apples costs 180 PKR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Rawalpindi is around 31%. This means that families spend 31% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 22% to 37% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families