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 $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: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Bahawalnagar 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75 PKR 487
$2.17 PKR 604
-19.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.30 PKR 3,985
$14.34 PKR 3,998
-0.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 PKR 1,501
$4.19 PKR 1,167
28.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 PKR 454
$2.75 PKR 766
-40.73%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PKR 985
$3.63 PKR 1,011
-2.75%
Cappuccino
$1.71 PKR 477
$2.34 PKR 652
-26.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 PKR 87.8
$0.33 PKR 90.9
-6.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.3
$0.23 PKR 64.4
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 PKR 238
$0.86 PKR 239
-1.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.61 PKR 169
-14.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 360
$1.21 PKR 338
6.61%
Eggs
$1.18 PKR 329
$1.17 PKR 326
0.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.18 PKR 1,724
$6.05 PKR 1,688
2.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 PKR 959
$2.38 PKR 663
44.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.46 PKR 1,244
$1.27 PKR 354
251.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 280
$0.88 PKR 245
13.64%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 PKR 177
$0.63 PKR 176
1.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 PKR 239
$0.61 PKR 171
40.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 134
$0.44 PKR 122
9.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.35 PKR 97.7
2.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 136
$0.52 PKR 144
-5.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 PKR 66.3
$0.45 PKR 124
-46.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.38 PKR 106
-5.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.92 PKR 4,437
$0.70 PKR 194
2174.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 PKR 277
$0.52 PKR 144
90.38%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 PKR 643
$0.88 PKR 245
161.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 PKR 541
$1.98 PKR 553
-2.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.8
$0.19 PKR 54.1
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.95 PKR 2,774
$7.01 PKR 1,954
41.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 PKR 234
$0.73 PKR 202
15.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$0.53 PKR 147
-33.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 PKR 856
$1.75 PKR 489
75.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 271
$0.88 PKR 246
10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K PKR 4.9M
$17.5K PKR 4.9M
0.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K PKR 6.5M
$22.9K PKR 6.4M
1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.7K
$139 PKR 38.7K
-25.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 PKR 1,101
$5.47 PKR 1,526
-27.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.31 PKR 4,545
$17.15 PKR 4,782
-4.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.99 PKR 2,784
$12.61 PKR 3,515
-20.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52 PKR 2,097
$5.95 PKR 1,657
26.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64 PKR 1,015
$4.29 PKR 1,195
-15.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.91 PKR 11.1K
$35.17 PKR 9,805
13.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$953 PKR 265.7K
$1,242 PKR 346.1K
-23.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.64 PKR 3,246
$15.19 PKR 4,236
-23.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.40 PKR 5,131
$22.65 PKR 6,314
-18.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 PKR 24.8K
$73.4 PKR 20.5K
20.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.47 PKR 7,937
$30.67 PKR 8,549
-7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$130 PKR 36.2K
$76.6 PKR 21.4K
69.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$64.5 PKR 18.0K
$51.3 PKR 14.3K
25.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$327 PKR 91.2K
$166 PKR 46.2K
97.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 PKR 48.5K
$104 PKR 29.1K
66.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,159 PKR 323.0K
$924 PKR 257.6K
25.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$522 PKR 145.4K
$557 PKR 155.3K
-6.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Bahawalnagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$174 PKR 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

Similar cities