Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $324 in Jhelum versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $510 in Jhelum versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $696 in Jhelum versus $905 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Jhelum costs roughly 26% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jhelum 76% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.82 PKR 505

-4.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.43 PKR 2,895

$13.95 PKR 3,873

-25.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

$5.40 PKR 1,499

-33.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 PKR 800

$1.56 PKR 433

84.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 PKR 1,303

$3.53 PKR 980

32.86%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 417

$1.71 PKR 474

-12.28%

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

$0.31 PKR 86.0

$0.31 PKR 87.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.23 PKR 63.9

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.86 PKR 239

-29.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.53 PKR 146

11.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.30 PKR 361

-0.77%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.12 PKR 312

6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 PKR 1,431

$6.03 PKR 1,674

-14.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 PKR 679

$3.43 PKR 954

-28.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 848

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-30.68%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.01 PKR 280

-2.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.69 PKR 191

-15.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.85 PKR 236

-27.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.47 PKR 129

8.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.34 PKR 94.1

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.52 PKR 145

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.24 PKR 66.0

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.39 PKR 109

-38.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 263

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-94.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$0.99 PKR 274

-31.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 570

$2.40 PKR 666

-14.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.91 PKR 532

-55.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.33

$0.20 PKR 56.1

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.16 PKR 1,988

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-24.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 302

$0.86 PKR 240

26.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.32 PKR 89.7

53.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 482

$2.92 PKR 811

-40.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

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

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

22.86%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-6.06%

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

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-49.67%

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

$2.79 PKR 775

$4.04 PKR 1,121

-30.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.93 PKR 3,591

$16.63 PKR 4,618

-22.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.36 PKR 3,433

$9.97 PKR 2,768

23.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,637

$7.43 PKR 2,062

-20.59%

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 PKR 958

$3.47 PKR 964

-0.58%

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

$17.80 PKR 4,942

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

-55.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,152 PKR 319.8K

$948 PKR 263.3K

21.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.09 PKR 4,469

$11.90 PKR 3,304

35.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,145

$18.45 PKR 5,124

19.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-32.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.89 PKR 7,189

$29.00 PKR 8,053

-10.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-43.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

-21.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$330 PKR 91.6K

-49.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$171 PKR 47.4K

-38.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$899 PKR 249.7K

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

-23.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$543 PKR 150.7K

$518 PKR 143.8K

4.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

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 Jhelum: July 13, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.5 in Jhelum and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Jhelum vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $78.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Jhelum 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

Jhelum vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $487 in Jhelum and $656 in Rawalpindi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.5 in Jhelum versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Jhelum 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.

Safety-wise, Jhelum and Rawalpindi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.