Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $304 in Bahawalpur versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $515 in Bahawalpur versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $726 in Bahawalpur versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 40% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 78% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.12 PKR 588

-16.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.23 PKR 2,004

$15.93 PKR 4,419

-54.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.43 PKR 1,229

$5.89 PKR 1,634

-24.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 PKR 694

$1.81 PKR 502

38.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PKR 610

$3.52 PKR 977

-37.50%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 415

$1.94 PKR 538

-22.68%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.6

$0.44 PKR 122

-29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 53.0

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-24.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.90 PKR 250

-37.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.55 PKR 152

-21.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.23 PKR 342

-15.45%

Eggs

$1.00 PKR 276

$1.11 PKR 307

-9.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 PKR 2,434

$6.16 PKR 1,710

42.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$3.57 PKR 989

-29.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.08 PKR 1,133

$5.22 PKR 1,447

-21.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.14 PKR 316

-8.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.86 PKR 237

-34.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$1.23 PKR 340

-52.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.57 PKR 158

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.6

$0.36 PKR 99.4

-13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.46 PKR 127

8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.33 PKR 92.2

51.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.40 PKR 111

-5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.51 PKR 143

$16.28 PKR 4,518

-96.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.20 PKR 332

-53.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 206

$2.46 PKR 682

-69.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 PKR 554

$1.93 PKR 535

3.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,808

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$0.91 PKR 254

20.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 PKR 294

$0.38 PKR 104

178.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PKR 815

$3.16 PKR 877

-6.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.13 PKR 312

0.88%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

30.34%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-14.34%

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

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-40.58%

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

$4.44 PKR 1,230

$5.49 PKR 1,523

-19.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.59 PKR 3,214

$18.67 PKR 5,178

-37.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.99 PKR 3,049

$6.75 PKR 1,873

62.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.28 PKR 2,019

$4.28 PKR 1,188

70.09%

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

$23.81 PKR 6,605

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

-50.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.1K

$844 PKR 234.1K

-21.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.45 PKR 4,564

$20.85 PKR 5,784

-21.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.94 PKR 6,086

$28.03 PKR 7,775

-21.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

-41.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.16 PKR 8,089

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

-19.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 PKR 71.4K

$438 PKR 121.6K

-41.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-44.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

$1,164 PKR 323.0K

197.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.0K

$512 PKR 142.1K

48.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$136 PKR 37.6K

$175 PKR 48.4K

-22.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

22.81

-48.14%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Rawalpindi pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $7.00 in Bahawalpur vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $91.0 vs $103 per month, with Bahawalpur 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

Bahawalpur vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Rawalpindi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $304 per month in Bahawalpur versus $504 in Rawalpindi – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur 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.

Expats usually find Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.