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: $325 in Jhelum versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $512 in Jhelum versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $700 in Jhelum versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Jhelum costs roughly 24% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jhelum 76% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.47 PKR 2,911

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-26.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-32.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 806

$1.54 PKR 429

88.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 PKR 1,363

$3.40 PKR 947

44.12%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 419

$1.73 PKR 481

-12.72%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.9

$0.32 PKR 88.9

3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.23 PKR 64.2

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.79 PKR 219

-29.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.57 PKR 158

3.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.23 PKR 343

2.44%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.12 PKR 311

2.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,408

$6.09 PKR 1,693

-16.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 662

$3.39 PKR 944

-29.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 854

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-32.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 283

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.67 PKR 186

-19.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.92 PKR 257

-31.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.47 PKR 132

8.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.9

$0.33 PKR 93.2

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.52 PKR 144

5.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.19 PKR 51.5

$0.26 PKR 72.7

-26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.37 PKR 102

-40.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 PKR 282

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-93.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

$1.04 PKR 288

-29.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 550

$2.41 PKR 669

-17.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.84 PKR 235

$1.90 PKR 528

-55.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.0

$0.18 PKR 49.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,924

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-30.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 299

$0.91 PKR 253

17.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.35 PKR 97.5

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.97 PKR 826

-39.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.96 PKR 267

1.04%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

23.52%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-8.49%

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

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

$100 PKR 28.0K

-47.33%

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

$2.87 PKR 799

$3.99 PKR 1,111

-28.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.02 PKR 3,623

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-21.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,500

$10.14 PKR 2,821

24.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,628

$7.67 PKR 2,134

-23.73%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 PKR 957

$3.60 PKR 1,003

-4.44%

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

$17.79 PKR 4,950

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-55.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,111 PKR 309.1K

$962 PKR 267.6K

15.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,498

$11.80 PKR 3,282

37.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 PKR 6,210

$18.84 PKR 5,242

18.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-31.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.22 PKR 7,294

$28.38 PKR 7,896

-7.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.5 PKR 20.7K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-42.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-21.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.5K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-49.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-37.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$851 PKR 236.6K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-27.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$454 PKR 126.3K

$516 PKR 143.5K

-12.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.5 in Jhelum and $130 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 $76.0 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 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $487 in Jhelum and $644 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: $74.5 in Jhelum versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 32% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.