🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $393 in Bathinda versus $495 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $625 in Bathinda versus $781 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $857 in Bathinda versus $1,067 in Rawalpindi.
🌍Living in Bathinda costs roughly 21% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bathinda71% lower, Rawalpindi64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.55₹244
$2.05PKR 569
24.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.30₹1,276
$16.07PKR 4,452
-17.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.69₹354
$5.84PKR 1,617
-36.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.76PKR 487
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.50PKR 971
-
Cappuccino
$1.14₹109
$1.98PKR 549
-42.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.91
$0.44PKR 121
-31.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10₹9.32
$0.25PKR 69.4
-60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07₹199
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95₹187
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64₹61.5
$0.91PKR 251
-29.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55₹52.7
$0.54PKR 151
1.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86₹82.6
$1.23PKR 340
-30.08%
Eggs
$0.99₹94.8
$1.11PKR 308
-10.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.90₹470
$6.32PKR 1,752
-22.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95₹283
$3.57PKR 990
-17.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$5.05PKR 1,398
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.79₹172
$1.20PKR 331
49.17%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76₹73.3
$0.84PKR 232
-9.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03₹98.9
$1.22PKR 338
-15.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.62₹59.3
$0.53PKR 146
16.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.32₹30.83
$0.36PKR 99.5
-11.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.38₹36.20
$0.45PKR 124
-15.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66₹63.7
$0.31PKR 84.9
112.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.39
$0.43PKR 118
-30.23%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$16.09PKR 4,458
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14PKR 316
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37PKR 657
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51₹337
$1.93PKR 535
81.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.67₹1,120
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73₹166
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68₹257
-
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.84₹656
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.73
$0.18PKR 50.5
44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.25₹695
$9.99PKR 2,767
-27.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03₹98.7
$0.93PKR 258
10.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₹20.99
$0.35PKR 96.1
-37.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.59₹153
$3.11PKR 861
-48.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06₹102
$1.13PKR 313
-6.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6K₹1.2M
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
-29.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K₹2.4M
$24.1KPKR 6.7M
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.00₹4,414
$113PKR 31.2K
-59.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.59₹441
$5.55PKR 1,537
-17.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.97₹669
$18.88PKR 5,229
-63.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.07₹1,350
$12.11PKR 3,354
16.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.37₹611
$6.81PKR 1,886
-6.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.17₹304
$4.26PKR 1,179
-25.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.9₹5,556
$48.70PKR 13.5K
18.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,532₹147.0K
$833PKR 230.8K
83.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.53₹1,202
$20.41PKR 5,653
-38.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.43₹2,344
$28.85PKR 7,993
-15.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.3₹5,498
$93.7PKR 26.0K
-38.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.05₹4,226
$36.19PKR 10.0K
21.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$127₹12.2K
$201PKR 55.6K
-36.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.2₹6,643
$83.0PKR 23.0K
-16.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$268₹25.7K
$428PKR 118.6K
-37.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177₹17.0K
$226PKR 62.6K
-21.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$896₹86.0K
$1,170PKR 324.1K
-23.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$569₹54.6K
$507PKR 140.5K
12.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bathinda
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$517₹49.6K
$173PKR 48.0K
198.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
22.81
-64.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bathinda: September 15, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Bathinda and $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bathinda pays 198% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $13.00 in Bathinda vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi. Groceries flip the comparison at $115 vs $103, with Rawalpindi cheaper for home cooking.
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
Bathinda vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bathinda and in Rawalpindi?
Bathinda and Rawalpindi differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($393 vs $495 including rent). Bathinda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bathinda or Rawalpindi?
Average pay runs 198% higher in Bathinda, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bathinda and in Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $127 in Bathinda versus $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Bathinda and in Rawalpindi?
A monthly transit pass in Bathinda runs roughly 38% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bathinda and Rawalpindi?
Childcare runs $57.9 in Bathinda versus $48.70 in Rawalpindi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $1,200 go in Bathinda compared to Rawalpindi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bathinda gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Bathinda and 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.
Where should expats move: Bathinda or Rawalpindi?
Expats usually find Bathinda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.