Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Jhelum Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Jhelum

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $324 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $510 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $696 in Jhelum.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 35% more expensive than in Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Jhelum 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.73 PKR 481

5.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$10.43 PKR 2,895

33.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.61 PKR 1,001

49.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$2.88 PKR 800

-45.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$4.69 PKR 1,303

-24.73%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.50 PKR 417

14.00%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.31 PKR 86.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.61 PKR 170

40.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.59 PKR 164

-10.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.29 PKR 359

0.78%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.19 PKR 331

-5.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$5.15 PKR 1,431

17.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 954

$2.44 PKR 679

40.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.05 PKR 848

44.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.98 PKR 272

3.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.58 PKR 162

18.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.62 PKR 172

37.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.51 PKR 141

-7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.38 PKR 104

-10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.54 PKR 150

-3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.20 PKR 54.4

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.24 PKR 66.8

62.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$0.95 PKR 263

1588.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.68 PKR 189

45.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$2.05 PKR 570

17.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 532

$0.85 PKR 235

124.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.17 PKR 46.33

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$7.16 PKR 1,988

32.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.09 PKR 302

-21.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.49 PKR 135

-34.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.74 PKR 482

67.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

-18.61%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

6.45%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

98.68%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$2.79 PKR 775

44.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$12.93 PKR 3,591

28.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$12.36 PKR 3,433

-19.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$5.90 PKR 1,637

25.93%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$3.45 PKR 958

0.58%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$17.80 PKR 4,942

125.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,152 PKR 319.8K

-17.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$16.09 PKR 4,469

-26.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$22.13 PKR 6,145

-16.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

48.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,053

$25.89 PKR 7,189

12.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

75.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

26.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$165 PKR 45.8K

99.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$104 PKR 28.9K

63.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$899 PKR 249.7K

30.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$543 PKR 150.7K

-4.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

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 Jhelum: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $75.5 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $10.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $78.0 per month, with Jhelum 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 Jhelum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $656 in Rawalpindi and $487 in Jhelum 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $75.5 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Jhelum 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 Jhelum 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 Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.