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: $338 in Bahawalpur versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $724 in Bahawalpur versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 21% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 498

$1.78 PKR 496

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.97 PKR 2,495

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-36.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 PKR 959

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-34.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.54 PKR 429

-6.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 PKR 1,299

$3.40 PKR 947

37.35%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.73 PKR 481

-25.43%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.32 PKR 88.9

-3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.79 PKR 219

-37.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.57 PKR 158

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.23 PKR 343

5.69%

Eggs

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.12 PKR 311

-8.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 PKR 2,044

$6.09 PKR 1,693

20.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 PKR 743

$3.39 PKR 944

-21.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 909

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-28.45%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 274

$1.02 PKR 283

-3.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.67 PKR 186

-19.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.92 PKR 257

-71.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.47 PKR 132

14.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.33 PKR 93.2

12.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.52 PKR 144

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.26 PKR 72.7

142.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 89.5

$0.37 PKR 102

-13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.94 PKR 263

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-94.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$1.04 PKR 288

-34.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 976

$2.41 PKR 669

45.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 PKR 521

$1.90 PKR 528

-1.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.18 PKR 49.36

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.81 PKR 503

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-81.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.91 PKR 253

19.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 PKR 49.67

$0.35 PKR 97.5

-48.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.97 PKR 826

-65.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.96 PKR 267

2.08%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

19.04%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-6.92%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

$100 PKR 28.0K

-42.60%

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

$3.87 PKR 1,077

$3.99 PKR 1,111

-3.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.79 PKR 3,559

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-23.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,430

$10.14 PKR 2,821

21.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 PKR 2,183

$7.67 PKR 2,135

2.35%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 PKR 586

$3.60 PKR 1,003

-41.39%

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

$26.12 PKR 7,266

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-34.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.6K

$962 PKR 267.6K

-31.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,433

$11.80 PKR 3,282

35.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,157

$18.84 PKR 5,242

17.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-30.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.44 PKR 7,357

$28.38 PKR 7,896

-6.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.6K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-18.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-18.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.7K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-30.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.4K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-22.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

203.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.5K

$516 PKR 143.6K

47.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$137 PKR 38.1K

$171 PKR 47.6K

-19.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-10.76%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Bahawalpur and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 25% 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: $9.00 in Bahawalpur vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $85.0 vs $95.0 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 27% 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, Rawalpindi earns 25% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $106 in Bahawalpur versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $338 per month in Bahawalpur versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 446% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 27% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.