Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $304 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $515 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $726 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 66% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Bahawalpur 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$1.76 PKR 488

20.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,419

$7.23 PKR 2,004

120.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,634

$4.43 PKR 1,229

32.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.50 PKR 694

-27.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 977

$2.20 PKR 610

60.00%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 538

$1.50 PKR 415

29.33%

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

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.31 PKR 85.6

41.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.19 PKR 53.0

31.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.56 PKR 156

60.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.43 PKR 120

27.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.04 PKR 288

18.27%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.00 PKR 276

11.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,710

$8.77 PKR 2,434

-29.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 989

$2.51 PKR 696

42.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,447

$4.08 PKR 1,133

27.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.04 PKR 290

9.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.56 PKR 155

53.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$0.58 PKR 160

112.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.48 PKR 133

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.4

$0.31 PKR 86.6

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.50 PKR 139

-8.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.50 PKR 138

-34.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.38 PKR 104

5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,518

$0.51 PKR 143

3092.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$0.56 PKR 156

114.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 682

$0.74 PKR 206

232.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.00 PKR 554

-3.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,808

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 254

$1.10 PKR 306

-17.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$1.06 PKR 294

-64.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 877

$2.94 PKR 815

7.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$1.14 PKR 317

-0.88%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

-23.28%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

16.75%

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

$115 PKR 31.9K

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

68.29%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,523

$4.44 PKR 1,230

23.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,178

$11.59 PKR 3,214

61.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,873

$10.99 PKR 3,049

-38.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,188

$7.28 PKR 2,019

-41.21%

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

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$23.81 PKR 6,605

103.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 234.1K

$660 PKR 183.1K

27.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,784

$16.45 PKR 4,564

26.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,775

$21.94 PKR 6,086

27.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

71.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$29.16 PKR 8,089

24.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.6K

$257 PKR 71.4K

70.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$126 PKR 34.9K

79.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 323.0K

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

-66.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.1K

$760 PKR 211.0K

-32.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

$136 PKR 37.6K

28.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

11.83

92.81%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Rawalpindi pays 29% 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: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $7.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $91.0 per month, with Bahawalpur 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 Bahawalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Rawalpindi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $504 per month in Rawalpindi versus $304 in Bahawalpur – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur 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.

Expats usually find Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.