Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahawalpur: $290 a month against $498 in Rawalpindi, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bahawalpur
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$290
/mo nomad
Rawalpindi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$498
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bahawalpur and in Rawalpindi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bahawalpur and in Rawalpindi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $290 in Bahawalpur versus $498 in Rawalpindi.

  • Bahawalpur $290
  • Rawalpindi $498

Estimated couple costs with rent: $504 in Bahawalpur versus $784 in Rawalpindi.

  • Bahawalpur $504
  • Rawalpindi $784

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $717 in Bahawalpur versus $1,070 in Rawalpindi.

  • Bahawalpur $717
  • Rawalpindi $1,070

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 42% less than in Rawalpindi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 79% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80 PKR 498
$2.04 PKR 565
-11.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.39 PKR 2,047
$16.20 PKR 4,484
-54.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.54 PKR 1,256
$5.79 PKR 1,602
-21.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 PKR 719
$1.78 PKR 492
46.07%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 PKR 609
$3.47 PKR 962
-36.60%
Cappuccino
$1.51 PKR 417
$1.94 PKR 537
-22.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 PKR 84.6
$0.44 PKR 121
-29.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.0
$0.23 PKR 63.3
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.55 PKR 151
$0.90 PKR 249
-38.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 154
$0.59 PKR 162
-5.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 PKR 283
$1.22 PKR 337
-16.39%
Eggs
$0.89 PKR 247
$1.14 PKR 316
-21.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.34 PKR 1,477
$6.38 PKR 1,765
-16.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.60 PKR 719
$3.38 PKR 935
-23.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.17 PKR 1,155
$5.22 PKR 1,446
-20.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.06 PKR 292
$1.14 PKR 316
-7.02%
Banana (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.89 PKR 245
-41.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 156
$1.22 PKR 337
-54.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 146
$0.56 PKR 156
-5.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 84.3
$0.35 PKR 97.7
-14.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 130
$0.46 PKR 127
2.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 PKR 172
$0.33 PKR 91.5
87.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 103
$0.42 PKR 117
-11.90%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.56 PKR 155
$16.44 PKR 4,551
-96.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 PKR 145
$1.21 PKR 335
-56.20%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 PKR 193
$2.45 PKR 677
-71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.41 PKR 389
$1.98 PKR 548
-28.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.17 PKR 46.63
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.08 PKR 2,791
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 PKR 302
$0.88 PKR 244
23.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 PKR 304
$0.35 PKR 95.8
214.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.86 PKR 791
$3.09 PKR 856
-7.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 PKR 333
$1.23 PKR 341
-2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K PKR 6.6M
$18.7K PKR 5.2M
27.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.0M
$24.5K PKR 6.8M
-11.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.0 PKR 18.8K
$115 PKR 31.8K
-40.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.60 PKR 1,274
$5.74 PKR 1,590
-19.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.58 PKR 3,206
$18.80 PKR 5,204
-38.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$12.17 PKR 3,369
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.67 PKR 2,953
$7.40 PKR 2,048
44.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.09 PKR 1,963
$4.38 PKR 1,211
61.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$23.83 PKR 6,596
$49.65 PKR 13.7K
-52.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$646 PKR 178.7K
$1,044 PKR 288.9K
-38.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.54 PKR 4,578
$17.65 PKR 4,886
-6.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.85 PKR 6,047
$32.02 PKR 8,862
-31.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.5 PKR 14.8K
$93.4 PKR 25.9K
-42.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.37 PKR 8,127
$35.64 PKR 9,863
-17.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$204 PKR 56.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$81.6 PKR 22.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$252 PKR 69.8K
$418 PKR 115.6K
-39.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$126 PKR 34.8K
$222 PKR 61.5K
-43.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 PKR 964.1K
$1,197 PKR 331.2K
191.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$758 PKR 209.8K
$451 PKR 124.8K
68.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahawalpur
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$138 PKR 38.1K
$173 PKR 47.8K
-20.16%
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: October 11, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahawalpur
$84
Rawalpindi
$139 65.5% $55
Groceries & Markets
Bahawalpur
$82
Rawalpindi
$103 25.2% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Bahawalpur
$55
Rawalpindi
$80 47.4% $26
Eating Out
Bahawalpur
$48
Rawalpindi
$60 23.9% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Bahawalpur
$14 *
Rawalpindi
$21 47.4% $6.7
Getting Around
Bahawalpur
$6.6 *
Rawalpindi
$13 103% $6.8
Accommodation & Living
Bahawalpur
- *
Rawalpindi
$82

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

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: $7.00 in Bahawalpur vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 vs $103 per month, with Bahawalpur cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Bahawalpur
🇵🇰 Rawalpindi
🕒 Local time
05:32 5:32 AM
05:32 5:32 AM
Same time as Bahawalpur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
762,111
2,098,231
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bahawalpur Rawalpindi 480 km
From you
  • Bahawalpur
  • Rawalpindi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Bahawalpur or Rawalpindi?
Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 72% 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.
Are salaries higher in Bahawalpur or in Rawalpindi?
On paper, salaries run 25% 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Bahawalpur or in Rawalpindi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Bahawalpur compared to Rawalpindi?
All in, you'll spend $290 per month in Bahawalpur versus $498 in Rawalpindi – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Bahawalpur or in Rawalpindi?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bahawalpur or Rawalpindi?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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