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: $495 in Rawalpindi versus $390 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Rawalpindi versus $596 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Rawalpindi versus $803 in Jhelum.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 27% more expensive than in Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 64% lower, Jhelum 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 PKR 569

$1.76 PKR 488

16.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.07 PKR 4,452

$10.62 PKR 2,943

51.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PKR 1,617

$5.25 PKR 1,456

11.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$2.55 PKR 707

-30.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 PKR 971

$2.19 PKR 607

59.82%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 549

$1.52 PKR 422

30.26%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.47 PKR 131

-6.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.32 PKR 89.2

-21.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.63 PKR 174

44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.66 PKR 182

-18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.27 PKR 351

-3.15%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.21 PKR 335

-8.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,752

$2.66 PKR 738

137.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.33 PKR 645

53.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 PKR 1,398

$2.62 PKR 725

92.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.04 PKR 287

15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.35 PKR 96.5

140.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$0.55 PKR 152

121.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.47 PKR 129

12.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.5

$0.31 PKR 87.0

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.37 PKR 104

21.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.54 PKR 150

-42.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.42 PKR 117

2.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.09 PKR 4,458

$1.78 PKR 494

803.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

$0.53 PKR 146

115.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 657

$2.61 PKR 722

-9.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.36 PKR 653

-18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.5

$0.18 PKR 48.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,767

$9.48 PKR 2,625

5.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.05 PKR 291

-11.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.1

$1.06 PKR 295

-66.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 PKR 861

$2.84 PKR 788

9.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.11 PKR 308

1.80%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

-24.88%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

2.92%

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

$113 PKR 31.2K

$66.3 PKR 18.4K

70.21%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,537

$5.65 PKR 1,566

-1.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 PKR 5,229

$14.69 PKR 4,070

28.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 PKR 3,354

$15.16 PKR 4,198

-20.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,179

$7.29 PKR 2,020

-41.56%

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

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

$26.13 PKR 7,237

86.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$833 PKR 230.8K

$2,033 PKR 563.1K

-59.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.41 PKR 5,653

$18.92 PKR 5,241

7.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 PKR 7,993

$26.69 PKR 7,395

8.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 PKR 26.0K

$54.8 PKR 15.2K

71.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

$30.28 PKR 8,389

19.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.6K

$142 PKR 39.4K

40.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

$72.2 PKR 20.0K

15.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 PKR 118.6K

$226 PKR 62.7K

89.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$161 PKR 44.5K

40.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,170 PKR 324.1K

$992 PKR 274.8K

17.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 PKR 140.5K

$494 PKR 136.9K

2.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

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 14, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $142 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $71.0 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. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $742 in Rawalpindi and $585 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: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $142 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% 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 $11.00 versus $16.00 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 27% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.