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: $368 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $532 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

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

Living in Rahim Yar Khan costs roughly 16% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rahim Yar Khan 72% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75 PKR 487
$1.82 PKR 505
-3.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.91 PKR 2,474
$13.95 PKR 3,873
-36.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.20 PKR 890
$5.40 PKR 1,499
-40.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 PKR 487
$1.56 PKR 433
12.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 PKR 906
$3.53 PKR 980
-7.65%
Cappuccino
$0.89 PKR 248
$1.71 PKR 474
-47.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 66.8
$0.31 PKR 87.1
-22.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 PKR 45.10
$0.23 PKR 63.9
-30.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.59 PKR 164
$0.86 PKR 239
-31.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 PKR 165
$0.53 PKR 146
11.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 PKR 298
$1.30 PKR 361
-17.69%
Eggs
$1.07 PKR 297
$1.12 PKR 312
-4.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.26 PKR 1,183
$6.03 PKR 1,674
-29.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.16 PKR 600
$3.43 PKR 954
-37.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.15 PKR 875
$4.40 PKR 1,221
-28.41%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 PKR 238
$1.01 PKR 280
-14.85%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 PKR 201
$0.69 PKR 191
4.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.58 PKR 160
$0.85 PKR 236
-31.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 133
$0.47 PKR 129
2.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.34 PKR 94.1
17.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 109
$0.52 PKR 145
-25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 PKR 169
$0.24 PKR 66.0
154.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 PKR 79.4
$0.39 PKR 109
-25.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.88 PKR 521
$16.04 PKR 4,454
-88.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 PKR 435
$0.99 PKR 274
58.59%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 PKR 539
$2.40 PKR 666
-19.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01 PKR 557
$1.91 PKR 532
5.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 PKR 42.71
$0.20 PKR 56.1
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,915
$9.52 PKR 2,645
-27.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 PKR 301
$0.86 PKR 240
25.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 122
$0.32 PKR 89.7
37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 PKR 398
$2.92 PKR 811
-51.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 PKR 277
$0.97 PKR 270
3.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K PKR 6.2M
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
27.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K PKR 6.1M
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
-3.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 PKR 29.0K
$104 PKR 28.8K
0.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.13 PKR 870
$4.04 PKR 1,121
-22.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.57 PKR 3,767
$16.63 PKR 4,618
-18.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.31 PKR 3,972
$9.97 PKR 2,768
43.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.96 PKR 1,656
$7.43 PKR 2,062
-19.78%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70 PKR 749
$3.47 PKR 964
-22.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$17.70 PKR 4,914
$40.20 PKR 11.2K
-55.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$880 PKR 244.3K
$948 PKR 263.3K
-7.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.56 PKR 3,489
$11.90 PKR 3,304
5.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.30 PKR 5,915
$18.45 PKR 5,124
15.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.1 PKR 14.7K
$89.5 PKR 24.9K
-40.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.66 PKR 7,959
$29.00 PKR 8,053
-1.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$79.8 PKR 22.2K
$133 PKR 36.8K
-39.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$61.0 PKR 16.9K
$65.1 PKR 18.1K
-6.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$113 PKR 31.4K
$330 PKR 91.6K
-65.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.5 PKR 26.5K
$171 PKR 47.4K
-44.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$529 PKR 146.9K
$1,176 PKR 326.5K
-55.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$442 PKR 122.8K
$518 PKR 143.8K
-14.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rahim Yar Khan
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$90.9 PKR 25.3K
$175 PKR 48.5K
-47.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.43
20.17
-13.58%

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

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 92% 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: $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $75.0 vs $95.0 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 19% 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 92% 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: $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan versus $133 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 27% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Rahim Yar Khan and in Rawalpindi?
Dining out is cheaper in Rahim Yar Khan – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
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 19% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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