🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi versus $440 in Bahawalnagar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $657 in Bahawalnagar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $917 in Rawalpindi versus $874 in Bahawalnagar.
🙂Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 4% less than in Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi68% lower, Bahawalnagar67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75PKR 487
$2.17PKR 604
-19.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.30PKR 3,985
$14.34PKR 3,998
-0.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38PKR 1,501
$4.19PKR 1,167
28.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.63PKR 454
$2.75PKR 766
-40.73%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 985
$3.63PKR 1,011
-2.75%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 477
$2.34PKR 652
-26.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.8
$0.33PKR 90.9
-6.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.3
$0.23PKR 64.4
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85PKR 238
$0.86PKR 239
-1.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.61PKR 169
-14.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29PKR 360
$1.21PKR 338
6.61%
Eggs
$1.18PKR 329
$1.17PKR 326
0.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18PKR 1,724
$6.05PKR 1,688
2.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.44PKR 959
$2.38PKR 663
44.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.46PKR 1,244
$1.27PKR 354
251.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.00PKR 280
$0.88PKR 245
13.64%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 177
$0.63PKR 176
1.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.61PKR 171
40.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$0.44PKR 122
9.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.35PKR 97.7
2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.52PKR 144
-5.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.3
$0.45PKR 124
-46.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.38PKR 106
-5.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.92PKR 4,437
$0.70PKR 194
2174.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 277
$0.52PKR 144
90.38%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30PKR 643
$0.88PKR 245
161.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94PKR 541
$1.98PKR 553
-2.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.8
$0.19PKR 54.1
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.95PKR 2,774
$7.01PKR 1,954
41.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84PKR 234
$0.73PKR 202
15.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 98.2
$0.53PKR 147
-33.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07PKR 856
$1.75PKR 489
75.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 271
$0.88PKR 246
10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$17.5KPKR 4.9M
0.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.5M
$22.9KPKR 6.4M
1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.7K
$139PKR 38.7K
-25.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95PKR 1,101
$5.47PKR 1,526
-27.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.31PKR 4,545
$17.15PKR 4,782
-4.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.99PKR 2,784
$12.61PKR 3,515
-20.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52PKR 2,097
$5.95PKR 1,657
26.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64PKR 1,015
$4.29PKR 1,195
-15.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$35.17PKR 9,805
13.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$953PKR 265.7K
$1,242PKR 346.1K
-23.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.64PKR 3,246
$15.19PKR 4,236
-23.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.40PKR 5,131
$22.65PKR 6,314
-18.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8PKR 24.8K
$73.4PKR 20.5K
20.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.47PKR 7,937
$30.67PKR 8,549
-7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.2K
$76.6PKR 21.4K
69.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.5PKR 18.0K
$51.3PKR 14.3K
25.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327PKR 91.2K
$166PKR 46.2K
97.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174PKR 48.5K
$104PKR 29.1K
66.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,159PKR 323.0K
$924PKR 257.6K
25.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$522PKR 145.4K
$557PKR 155.3K
-6.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$174PKR 48.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
19.88
1.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bahawalnagar: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $76.6 in Bahawalnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $14.00 in Bahawalnagar. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 vs $79.0, with Bahawalnagar cheaper for home cooking.
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
Rawalpindi vs Bahawalnagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bahawalnagar cheaper than Rawalpindi?
Rawalpindi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $635 in Rawalpindi and $661 in Bahawalnagar 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.
What is the rent difference between Rawalpindi and Bahawalnagar?
Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $76.6 in Bahawalnagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Rawalpindi runs roughly 42% less than in Bahawalnagar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $39.91 in Rawalpindi versus $35.17 in Bahawalnagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,200 enough for either Rawalpindi or Bahawalnagar?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Rawalpindi or Bahawalnagar?
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 safer, Rawalpindi or Bahawalnagar?
Safety-wise, Rawalpindi and Bahawalnagar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Bahawalnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs other spots: cost of living compared