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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $338 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $724 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 27% more expensive than Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.79 PKR 498

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$8.97 PKR 2,495

58.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$3.45 PKR 959

53.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.44 PKR 401

6.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$4.67 PKR 1,299

-27.19%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.29 PKR 359

34.11%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.31 PKR 84.9

3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.49 PKR 135

61.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.57 PKR 159

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.30 PKR 360

-5.38%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.03 PKR 285

8.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$7.35 PKR 2,044

-17.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.67 PKR 743

26.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.27 PKR 909

39.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.98 PKR 274

4.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.54 PKR 149

24.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.26 PKR 72.7

253.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.54 PKR 149

-12.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.37 PKR 104

-10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.63 PKR 175

-58.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.32 PKR 89.5

15.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$0.94 PKR 263

1648.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.68 PKR 189

52.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$3.51 PKR 976

-31.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.87 PKR 521

1.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.20 PKR 55.8

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$1.81 PKR 503

446.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.09 PKR 303

-16.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.18 PKR 49.67

94.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.03 PKR 287

188.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.98 PKR 272

-2.04%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-16.00%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

7.43%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

74.20%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$3.87 PKR 1,077

3.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$12.79 PKR 3,559

30.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$12.33 PKR 3,430

-17.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$7.85 PKR 2,183

-2.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$2.11 PKR 586

70.62%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$26.12 PKR 7,266

52.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$660 PKR 183.6K

45.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$15.94 PKR 4,433

-25.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$22.13 PKR 6,157

-14.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

44.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$26.44 PKR 7,357

7.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$106 PKR 29.6K

21.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

23.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$225 PKR 62.7K

43.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$135 PKR 37.4K

28.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

-67.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$760 PKR 211.5K

-32.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$137 PKR 38.1K

24.84%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 25% 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 $85.0 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 27% 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.

Rawalpindi pays 25% more on average, 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $338 in Bahawalpur – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 446% 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 27% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.