Cost of Living Comparison Between Rahim Yar Khan and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Rahim Yar Khan and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $440 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $503 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $645 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $776 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $851 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $1,050 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Rahim Yar Khan costs roughly 13% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rahim Yar Khan 68% lower, Rawalpindi 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.42 PKR 393
$2.09 PKR 580
-32.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.71 PKR 2,966
$16.42 PKR 4,548
-34.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 PKR 1,282
$5.81 PKR 1,611
-20.31%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 PKR 766
$1.84 PKR 511
50.54%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 PKR 1,405
$3.48 PKR 963
45.69%
Cappuccino
$0.87 PKR 242
$1.92 PKR 532
-54.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 PKR 83.2
$0.40 PKR 111
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 PKR 51.7
$0.25 PKR 69.4
-24.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 PKR 188
$0.86 PKR 239
-20.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 PKR 125
$0.59 PKR 163
-23.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.66 PKR 184
$1.20 PKR 333
-45.00%
Eggs
$1.10 PKR 304
$1.15 PKR 318
-4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.21 PKR 889
$6.21 PKR 1,721
-48.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.45 PKR 679
$3.47 PKR 962
-29.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.27 PKR 1,184
$5.18 PKR 1,436
-17.57%
Apples (1kg)
$0.43 PKR 119
$1.19 PKR 329
-63.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.34 PKR 94.8
$0.85 PKR 236
-60.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 154
$1.27 PKR 352
-56.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.57 PKR 157
-35.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.34 PKR 94.8
$0.38 PKR 107
-10.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.28 PKR 78.4
$0.49 PKR 135
-42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.19 PKR 53.6
$0.33 PKR 92.3
-42.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 PKR 80.9
$0.42 PKR 117
-30.95%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.88 PKR 521
$15.90 PKR 4,406
-88.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.18 PKR 327
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 PKR 822
$2.44 PKR 677
21.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 PKR 604
$1.94 PKR 539
12.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.10 PKR 28.55
$0.19 PKR 53.2
-47.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.07 PKR 2,789
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 PKR 204
$0.94 PKR 261
-21.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 PKR 96.5
$0.34 PKR 93.9
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.30 PKR 638
$3.14 PKR 869
-26.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 PKR 293
$1.17 PKR 323
-9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K PKR 6.9M
$17.7K PKR 4.9M
40.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K PKR 6.4M
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
-3.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 PKR 40.1K
$112 PKR 31.1K
29.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.06 PKR 1,401
$5.76 PKR 1,594
-12.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.28 PKR 3,957
$18.29 PKR 5,067
-21.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.72 PKR 2,694
$11.83 PKR 3,278
-17.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.20 PKR 5,042
$6.79 PKR 1,881
168.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.33 PKR 1,200
$4.30 PKR 1,191
0.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$19.49 PKR 5,399
$48.80 PKR 13.5K
-60.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,018 PKR 281.9K
$852 PKR 235.9K
19.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.96 PKR 3,037
$20.89 PKR 5,787
-47.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.70 PKR 4,905
$28.53 PKR 7,903
-37.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 PKR 25.8K
$93.5 PKR 25.9K
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.00 PKR 7,202
$35.66 PKR 9,879
-27.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$126 PKR 35.0K
$201 PKR 55.7K
-37.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$91.1 PKR 25.2K
$82.3 PKR 22.8K
10.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$273 PKR 75.6K
$430 PKR 119.1K
-36.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 PKR 50.0K
$226 PKR 62.6K
-20.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$549 PKR 152.2K
$1,149 PKR 318.2K
-52.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$450 PKR 124.6K
$517 PKR 143.2K
-12.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$90.8 PKR 25.2K
$173 PKR 48.0K
-47.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.5
22.81
-45.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 5, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Rahim Yar Khan and $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 91% 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: $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $67.0 vs $103 per month, with Rahim Yar Khan 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
Rahim Yar Khan vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rahim Yar Khan or Rawalpindi?
Rahim Yar Khan wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rahim Yar Khan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rahim Yar Khan or in Rawalpindi?
On paper, salaries run 91% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rahim Yar Khan compared to Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $126 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rahim Yar Khan or in Rawalpindi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Rahim Yar Khan compared to Rawalpindi?
All in, you'll spend $440 per month in Rahim Yar Khan versus $503 in Rawalpindi – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Rahim Yar Khan or in Rawalpindi?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Rahim Yar Khan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rahim Yar Khan or 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rahim Yar Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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