Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Bahawalnagar Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Bahawalnagar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi versus $442 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $666 in Rawalpindi versus $656 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $909 in Rawalpindi versus $869 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 4% less than in Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Bahawalnagar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.06 PKR 574

-13.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.12 PKR 3,926

$14.37 PKR 3,994

-1.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 PKR 1,495

$4.30 PKR 1,195

25.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 PKR 435

$2.76 PKR 766

-43.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 975

$3.60 PKR 1,002

-2.50%

Cappuccino

$1.72 PKR 477

$2.35 PKR 653

-26.81%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.7

$0.33 PKR 90.7

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.21 PKR 58.2

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.86 PKR 240

-8.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.61 PKR 169

-8.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 346

$1.21 PKR 336

2.48%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.17 PKR 324

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 PKR 1,654

$5.86 PKR 1,629

1.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 PKR 939

$2.37 PKR 659

42.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$1.29 PKR 359

244.19%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.91 PKR 254

3.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 179

$0.61 PKR 169

4.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.58 PKR 161

48.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.48 PKR 133

6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.35 PKR 98.1

2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.51 PKR 143

-3.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.2

$0.45 PKR 124

-46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.35 PKR 98.0

2.86%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.46 PKR 4,576

$0.88 PKR 246

1770.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.55 PKR 153

89.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 635

$0.85 PKR 237

168.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.00 PKR 555

-0.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.86

$0.18 PKR 49.63

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.93 PKR 2,762

$7.26 PKR 2,019

36.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.72 PKR 201

19.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 PKR 99.0

$0.49 PKR 138

-26.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 PKR 821

$1.72 PKR 478

71.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.90 PKR 249

8.89%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

-1.59%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

-1.31%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$138 PKR 38.5K

-27.45%

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

$3.97 PKR 1,104

$5.34 PKR 1,484

-25.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.55 PKR 4,601

$16.99 PKR 4,724

-2.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.13 PKR 2,816

$12.43 PKR 3,456

-18.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.47 PKR 2,076

$5.94 PKR 1,652

25.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.63 PKR 1,010

$4.17 PKR 1,158

-12.95%

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

$39.82 PKR 11.1K

$34.36 PKR 9,553

15.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$969 PKR 269.3K

$1,243 PKR 345.5K

-22.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.62 PKR 3,229

$15.04 PKR 4,181

-22.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 PKR 5,282

$23.21 PKR 6,452

-18.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 PKR 24.8K

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

22.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.78 PKR 8,001

$30.54 PKR 8,492

-5.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

79.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.3 PKR 18.2K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

24.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 91.0K

$164 PKR 45.6K

99.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$105 PKR 29.1K

64.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,142 PKR 317.4K

$950 PKR 264.3K

20.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$505 PKR 140.3K

$507 PKR 140.9K

-0.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 PKR 47.7K

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $73.9 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 $93.0 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

Rawalpindi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $634 in Rawalpindi and $663 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $73.9 in Bahawalnagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Rawalpindi runs roughly 37% less than in Bahawalnagar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $39.82 in Rawalpindi versus $34.36 in Bahawalnagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

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, 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.

Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Bahawalnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.