Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $503 in Rawalpindi versus $440 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Rawalpindi versus $645 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Rawalpindi versus $851 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 14% more expensive than in Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 64% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$1.42 PKR 393

47.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.42 PKR 4,548

$10.71 PKR 2,966

53.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.81 PKR 1,611

$4.63 PKR 1,282

25.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 PKR 511

$2.77 PKR 766

-33.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 963

$5.07 PKR 1,405

-31.36%

Cappuccino

$1.92 PKR 532

$0.87 PKR 242

120.69%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.30 PKR 83.2

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.19 PKR 51.7

31.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.68 PKR 188

26.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.45 PKR 125

31.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$0.66 PKR 184

81.82%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 318

$1.10 PKR 304

4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.21 PKR 1,721

$3.21 PKR 889

93.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 PKR 962

$2.45 PKR 679

41.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 PKR 1,436

$4.27 PKR 1,184

21.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 PKR 329

$0.43 PKR 119

176.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.34 PKR 94.8

150.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 352

$0.55 PKR 154

130.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.37 PKR 104

54.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.34 PKR 94.8

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.28 PKR 78.4

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.19 PKR 53.6

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.29 PKR 80.9

44.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.90 PKR 4,406

$1.88 PKR 521

745.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PKR 327

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PKR 677

$2.97 PKR 822

-17.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 539

$2.18 PKR 604

-11.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.2

$0.10 PKR 28.55

90.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.07 PKR 2,789

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.74 PKR 204

27.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 PKR 93.9

$0.35 PKR 96.5

-2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 PKR 869

$2.30 PKR 638

36.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.06 PKR 293

10.38%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$24.7K PKR 6.9M

-28.59%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

4.06%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$145 PKR 40.1K

-22.54%

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

$5.76 PKR 1,594

$5.06 PKR 1,401

13.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.29 PKR 5,067

$14.28 PKR 3,957

28.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.83 PKR 3,278

$9.72 PKR 2,694

21.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.79 PKR 1,881

$18.20 PKR 5,042

-62.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$4.33 PKR 1,200

-0.69%

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

$48.80 PKR 13.5K

$19.49 PKR 5,399

150.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$852 PKR 235.9K

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

-16.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.89 PKR 5,787

$10.96 PKR 3,037

90.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.53 PKR 7,903

$17.70 PKR 4,905

61.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 PKR 25.9K

$93.1 PKR 25.8K

0.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.66 PKR 9,879

$26.00 PKR 7,202

37.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.7K

$126 PKR 35.0K

59.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.3 PKR 22.8K

$91.1 PKR 25.2K

-9.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 PKR 119.1K

$273 PKR 75.6K

57.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$180 PKR 50.0K

25.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 PKR 318.2K

$549 PKR 152.2K

109.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$517 PKR 143.2K

$450 PKR 124.6K

14.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$90.8 PKR 25.2K

90.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

12.5

82.48%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $126 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 91% 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: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $67.0 per month, with Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rahim Yar Khan wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Rawalpindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rahim Yar Khan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 91% 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: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $126 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $503 per month in Rawalpindi versus $440 in Rahim Yar Khan – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.