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: $392 in Jhelum versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $596 in Jhelum versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $800 in Jhelum versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Jhelum costs roughly 22% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jhelum 72% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 495

$2.12 PKR 588

-15.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.81 PKR 2,995

$15.93 PKR 4,415

-32.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$5.89 PKR 1,633

-10.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 PKR 704

$1.81 PKR 502

40.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PKR 615

$3.52 PKR 976

-36.93%

Cappuccino

$1.52 PKR 421

$1.94 PKR 537

-21.65%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.44 PKR 122

-2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 81.8

$0.25 PKR 69.4

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.90 PKR 250

-28.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.55 PKR 152

10.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.23 PKR 342

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.11 PKR 307

9.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 713

$6.16 PKR 1,708

-58.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.32 PKR 643

$3.57 PKR 988

-35.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.72 PKR 754

$5.22 PKR 1,446

-47.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 302

$1.14 PKR 316

-4.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.6

$0.86 PKR 237

-59.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$1.23 PKR 340

-56.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.57 PKR 158

-17.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.9

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.7

$0.46 PKR 127

-23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.33 PKR 92.1

51.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.40 PKR 111

5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 PKR 506

$16.28 PKR 4,514

-88.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.20 PKR 332

-54.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PKR 753

$2.46 PKR 681

10.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 PKR 645

$1.93 PKR 534

20.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.47

$0.16 PKR 43.61

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.75 PKR 2,424

$10.12 PKR 2,806

-13.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$0.91 PKR 253

20.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.38 PKR 104

176.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 PKR 781

$3.16 PKR 876

-10.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.13 PKR 312

-0.88%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

26.71%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-8.51%

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

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-41.89%

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

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.49 PKR 1,522

0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.61 PKR 4,049

$18.67 PKR 5,174

-21.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.94 PKR 3,586

$12.12 PKR 3,360

6.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,871

Cinema Ticket

$7.25 PKR 2,008

$4.28 PKR 1,187

69.39%

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

$26.69 PKR 7,397

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

-44.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,005 PKR 555.6K

$844 PKR 233.9K

137.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.80 PKR 5,210

$20.85 PKR 5,779

-9.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.60 PKR 7,373

$28.03 PKR 7,769

-5.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 PKR 15.0K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

-40.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.28 PKR 8,392

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

-16.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.3K

$204 PKR 56.6K

-43.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.7 PKR 22.1K

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

-2.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 PKR 67.3K

$438 PKR 121.5K

-44.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 PKR 42.1K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-32.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$991 PKR 274.5K

$1,164 PKR 322.7K

-14.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 PKR 148.1K

$512 PKR 142.0K

4.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

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 Jhelum: September 1, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Jhelum and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Jhelum vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $70.0 vs $103 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. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $587 in Jhelum and $756 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: $116 in Jhelum versus $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% 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 $11.00 versus $16.00 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 29% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.