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: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $337 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $725 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 30% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.74 PKR 484

4.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$8.78 PKR 2,439

58.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.47 PKR 964

55.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.40 PKR 388

11.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$4.76 PKR 1,321

-25.84%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.29 PKR 358

32.56%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.30 PKR 84.7

3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.22 PKR 60.9

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.51 PKR 142

68.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.23 PKR 341

5.69%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.05 PKR 292

6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$7.37 PKR 2,047

-18.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$2.57 PKR 714

33.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.25 PKR 903

35.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.99 PKR 275

2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.55 PKR 153

25.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.26 PKR 72.8

226.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.53 PKR 148

-11.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.35 PKR 96.5

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.63 PKR 174

-61.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.30 PKR 82.9

30.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$0.97 PKR 270

1553.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.69 PKR 192

43.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$3.47 PKR 963

-30.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.84 PKR 511

3.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.20 PKR 56.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$1.80 PKR 499

428.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.08 PKR 301

-20.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.21 PKR 57.0

52.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.07 PKR 297

172.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.98 PKR 271

-1.02%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-17.50%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

8.33%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

80.21%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$3.89 PKR 1,080

3.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$12.75 PKR 3,541

30.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$12.44 PKR 3,454

-19.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$8.09 PKR 2,247

-8.16%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$2.18 PKR 605

59.17%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$26.76 PKR 7,431

50.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$681 PKR 189.1K

39.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$15.92 PKR 4,419

-25.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$22.24 PKR 6,174

-17.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

49.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$26.13 PKR 7,255

10.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$105 PKR 29.2K

25.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

21.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$234 PKR 65.0K

40.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$135 PKR 37.5K

26.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

-65.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$780 PKR 216.5K

-33.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$135 PKR 37.5K

29.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

12.06%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $84.0 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 30% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $337 in Bahawalpur – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 429% less than in Rawalpindi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 30% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.