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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $325 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $512 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $700 in Jhelum.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 32% more expensive than Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Jhelum 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$10.47 PKR 2,911

35.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$3.58 PKR 996

47.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$2.90 PKR 806

-46.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$4.90 PKR 1,363

-30.61%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.51 PKR 419

14.57%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.33 PKR 91.9

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.56 PKR 156

41.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.59 PKR 165

-3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.26 PKR 351

-2.38%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.15 PKR 320

-2.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$5.06 PKR 1,408

20.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.38 PKR 662

42.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.07 PKR 854

48.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.54 PKR 151

24.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.63 PKR 175

46.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.51 PKR 142

-7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.35 PKR 96.9

-5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.55 PKR 154

-5.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.19 PKR 51.5

36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.22 PKR 61.2

68.18%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.01 PKR 282

1527.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.73 PKR 204

42.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.98 PKR 550

21.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$0.84 PKR 235

126.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.18 PKR 51.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$6.92 PKR 1,924

42.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.07 PKR 299

-14.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.53 PKR 148

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.79 PKR 497

65.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.97 PKR 269

-1.03%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-19.04%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

9.28%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

89.87%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$2.87 PKR 799

39.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$13.02 PKR 3,623

27.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$12.58 PKR 3,500

-19.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,134

$5.85 PKR 1,628

31.11%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$3.44 PKR 957

4.65%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$17.79 PKR 4,950

123.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,111 PKR 309.1K

-13.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$16.17 PKR 4,498

-27.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$22.32 PKR 6,210

-15.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

46.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$26.22 PKR 7,294

8.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$74.5 PKR 20.7K

74.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

26.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$164 PKR 45.5K

97.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$108 PKR 29.9K

60.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$851 PKR 236.6K

37.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.5K

$454 PKR 126.3K

13.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

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 Jhelum: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $74.5 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 $76.0 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 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $644 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $74.5 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 32% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.