Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalnagar and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalnagar and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $440 in Bahawalnagar versus $423 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Bahawalnagar versus $670 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $874 in Bahawalnagar versus $917 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Bahawalnagar is roughly 4% more expensive than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalnagar 67% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 PKR 604

$1.75 PKR 487

24.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.34 PKR 3,998

$14.30 PKR 3,985

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 PKR 1,167

$5.38 PKR 1,501

-22.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 766

$1.63 PKR 454

68.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,011

$3.53 PKR 985

2.83%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 652

$1.71 PKR 477

36.84%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.31 PKR 87.8

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.4

$0.21 PKR 58.3

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.85 PKR 238

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.52 PKR 144

17.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.29 PKR 360

-6.20%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.18 PKR 329

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,688

$6.18 PKR 1,724

-2.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 663

$3.44 PKR 959

-30.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 354

$4.46 PKR 1,244

-71.52%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 245

$1.00 PKR 280

-12.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.64 PKR 177

-1.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.86 PKR 239

-29.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.48 PKR 134

-8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.7

$0.36 PKR 101

-2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.49 PKR 136

6.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.24 PKR 66.3

87.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.36 PKR 101

5.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.70 PKR 194

$15.92 PKR 4,437

-95.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.99 PKR 277

-47.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 PKR 245

$2.30 PKR 643

-61.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 553

$1.94 PKR 541

2.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 54.1

$0.18 PKR 50.8

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.01 PKR 1,954

$9.95 PKR 2,774

-29.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

$0.84 PKR 234

-13.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.35 PKR 98.2

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 489

$3.07 PKR 856

-43.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 246

$0.97 PKR 271

-9.28%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

-0.47%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

-1.23%

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

$139 PKR 38.7K

$103 PKR 28.7K

35.06%

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

$5.47 PKR 1,526

$3.95 PKR 1,101

38.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.15 PKR 4,782

$16.31 PKR 4,545

5.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.61 PKR 3,515

$9.99 PKR 2,784

26.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 PKR 1,657

$7.52 PKR 2,097

-20.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,195

$3.64 PKR 1,015

17.86%

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

$35.17 PKR 9,805

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-11.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 PKR 346.1K

$953 PKR 265.7K

30.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.19 PKR 4,236

$11.64 PKR 3,246

30.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.65 PKR 6,314

$18.40 PKR 5,131

23.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.4 PKR 20.5K

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

-17.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.67 PKR 8,549

$28.47 PKR 7,937

7.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 PKR 21.4K

$130 PKR 36.2K

-41.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

-20.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.2K

$327 PKR 91.2K

-49.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.1K

$174 PKR 48.5K

-40.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$924 PKR 257.6K

$1,159 PKR 323.0K

-20.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$557 PKR 155.3K

$522 PKR 145.4K

6.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 PKR 48.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.17

-1.44%

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

Last update for Bahawalnagar: April 27, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.6 in Bahawalnagar and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Bahawalnagar vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $79.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Bahawalnagar 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

Bahawalnagar vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $661 in Bahawalnagar and $635 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: $76.6 in Bahawalnagar versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Rawalpindi runs roughly 42% less than in Bahawalnagar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $35.17 in Bahawalnagar versus $39.91 in Rawalpindi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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, Bahawalnagar 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Bahawalnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.