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: $337 in Bahawalpur versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $725 in Bahawalpur versus $905 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 23% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.82 PKR 505

-4.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.78 PKR 2,439

$13.95 PKR 3,873

-37.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 PKR 964

$5.40 PKR 1,499

-35.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 PKR 388

$1.56 PKR 433

-10.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 PKR 1,321

$3.53 PKR 980

34.84%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.71 PKR 474

-24.56%

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

$0.30 PKR 84.7

$0.31 PKR 87.1

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.86 PKR 239

-40.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.30 PKR 361

-5.38%

Eggs

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.12 PKR 312

-6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 PKR 2,047

$6.03 PKR 1,674

22.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 714

$3.43 PKR 953

-25.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 903

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-26.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.01 PKR 280

-1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.69 PKR 191

-20.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.85 PKR 236

-69.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.47 PKR 129

12.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.5

$0.34 PKR 94.1

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.52 PKR 145

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.24 PKR 66.0

162.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 82.9

$0.39 PKR 109

-23.08%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 PKR 270

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-93.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.99 PKR 274

-30.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 PKR 963

$2.40 PKR 666

44.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 PKR 511

$1.91 PKR 531

-3.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.4

$0.20 PKR 56.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.80 PKR 499

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-81.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 301

$0.86 PKR 240

25.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 57.0

$0.32 PKR 89.7

-34.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 297

$2.92 PKR 811

-63.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.97 PKR 270

1.03%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

21.21%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-7.69%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-44.51%

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

$3.89 PKR 1,080

$4.04 PKR 1,121

-3.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.75 PKR 3,541

$16.63 PKR 4,618

-23.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,454

$9.97 PKR 2,768

24.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.09 PKR 2,247

$7.43 PKR 2,062

8.88%

Cinema Ticket

$2.18 PKR 605

$3.47 PKR 964

-37.18%

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

$26.76 PKR 7,431

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

-33.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 PKR 189.1K

$948 PKR 263.3K

-28.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 PKR 4,419

$11.90 PKR 3,304

33.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.24 PKR 6,174

$18.45 PKR 5,124

20.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-33.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.13 PKR 7,255

$29.00 PKR 8,052

-9.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-20.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

-17.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 PKR 65.0K

$330 PKR 91.6K

-29.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$171 PKR 47.4K

-21.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

193.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 PKR 216.5K

$518 PKR 143.8K

50.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$175 PKR 48.5K

-22.73%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Bahawalpur and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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: $9.00 in Bahawalpur vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 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 30% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $105 in Bahawalpur versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $337 per month in Bahawalpur versus $437 in Rawalpindi – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 429% 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 30% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.