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: $495 in Rawalpindi versus $503 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Rawalpindi versus $741 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Rawalpindi versus $979 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 2% less than in Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 64% lower, Bahawalnagar 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 PKR 569

$2.54 PKR 704

-19.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.07 PKR 4,451

$14.30 PKR 3,961

12.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PKR 1,617

$5.66 PKR 1,567

3.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$3.69 PKR 1,023

-52.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 PKR 971

$5.27 PKR 1,461

-33.59%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 549

$2.57 PKR 711

-22.96%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.39 PKR 108

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.26 PKR 72.1

-3.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.88 PKR 245

3.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.68 PKR 189

-20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.21 PKR 334

1.65%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.17 PKR 323

-5.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,752

$6.40 PKR 1,772

-1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.48 PKR 686

43.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 PKR 1,397

$4.92 PKR 1,362

2.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.22 PKR 339

-1.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.64 PKR 178

31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$0.92 PKR 254

32.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.62 PKR 171

-14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.4

$0.28 PKR 77.1

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 90.1

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.47 PKR 129

-34.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.33 PKR 92.5

30.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.09 PKR 4,457

$1.09 PKR 303

1376.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

$0.64 PKR 178

78.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 657

$1.66 PKR 461

42.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.12 PKR 588

-8.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.4

$0.19 PKR 51.8

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,767

$10.47 PKR 2,900

-4.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.1

$0.69 PKR 191

-49.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 PKR 861

$1.81 PKR 503

71.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.33 PKR 369

-15.04%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

-1.12%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-9.26%

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

$113 PKR 31.2K

$128 PKR 35.6K

-12.22%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,537

$5.13 PKR 1,422

8.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 PKR 5,229

$16.41 PKR 4,546

15.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 PKR 3,353

$16.30 PKR 4,514

-25.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,179

$4.34 PKR 1,203

-1.84%

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

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

$46.41 PKR 12.9K

4.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$833 PKR 230.7K

$2,005 PKR 555.5K

-58.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.41 PKR 5,652

$17.76 PKR 4,918

14.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 PKR 7,992

$27.19 PKR 7,531

6.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 PKR 25.9K

$74.4 PKR 20.6K

25.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

$31.60 PKR 8,752

14.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.6K

$121 PKR 33.4K

66.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

$76.2 PKR 21.1K

9.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 PKR 118.6K

$267 PKR 73.9K

60.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$149 PKR 41.2K

51.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,170 PKR 324.0K

$966 PKR 267.7K

21.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 PKR 140.5K

$463 PKR 128.3K

9.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

14.28

59.73%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $121 in Bahawalnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $14.00 in Bahawalnagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $96.0 per month, with Bahawalnagar 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

Rawalpindi vs Bahawalnagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $742 in Rawalpindi and $754 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: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $121 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 5% less than in Bahawalnagar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $48.70 in Rawalpindi versus $46.41 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 2% less than in Bahawalnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.