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: $450 in Bahawalnagar versus $431 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Bahawalnagar versus $665 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $865 in Bahawalnagar versus $899 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Bahawalnagar is roughly 5% more expensive than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalnagar 66% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 PKR 583

$1.79 PKR 497

17.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.92 PKR 3,862

$14.27 PKR 3,959

-2.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 PKR 1,199

$5.26 PKR 1,460

-17.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 PKR 765

$1.60 PKR 445

72.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

$3.42 PKR 950

5.56%

Cappuccino

$2.27 PKR 630

$1.66 PKR 460

36.75%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.34 PKR 95.5

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.21 PKR 58.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.79 PKR 219

7.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.56 PKR 156

1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.30 PKR 361

-6.92%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 326

$1.14 PKR 316

3.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PKR 1,706

$5.98 PKR 1,660

2.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.34 PKR 649

$3.26 PKR 906

-28.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$4.47 PKR 1,240

-71.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.02 PKR 283

-15.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.63 PKR 175

1.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.84 PKR 233

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.50 PKR 139

-4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.37 PKR 102

-5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.52 PKR 144

-5.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.26 PKR 72.8

73.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.40 PKR 110

-5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 309

$15.96 PKR 4,429

-93.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 150

$1.02 PKR 284

-47.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$2.37 PKR 658

-64.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 527

$1.92 PKR 533

-1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.1

$0.20 PKR 56.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.93 PKR 1,923

$9.59 PKR 2,663

-27.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 187

$0.85 PKR 235

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.32 PKR 90.0

56.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 479

$3.09 PKR 858

-44.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.95 PKR 264

-2.11%

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

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

1.93%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

0.03%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$101 PKR 28.0K

40.14%

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

$5.42 PKR 1,503

$3.96 PKR 1,100

36.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.30 PKR 4,802

$16.35 PKR 4,537

5.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.42 PKR 3,447

$9.86 PKR 2,736

25.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 PKR 1,691

$7.42 PKR 2,060

-17.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,167

$3.57 PKR 990

17.93%

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

$34.65 PKR 9,615

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

-15.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

$963 PKR 267.2K

27.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.24 PKR 4,230

$11.74 PKR 3,258

29.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.48 PKR 6,239

$18.96 PKR 5,263

18.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-18.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.04 PKR 8,338

$29.12 PKR 8,081

3.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.1 PKR 21.1K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-42.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

-22.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.6K

$334 PKR 92.8K

-49.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.0K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-39.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$911 PKR 252.7K

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

-19.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.4K

$510 PKR 141.6K

-9.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.1 in Bahawalnagar and $133 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 $94.0 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $675 in Bahawalnagar and $646 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: $76.1 in Bahawalnagar versus $133 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 38% less than in Bahawalnagar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $34.65 in Bahawalnagar versus $40.97 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 5% less than in Bahawalnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.