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: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $368 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $532 in Rahim Yar Khan.

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

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 19% more expensive than in Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.75 PKR 487

4.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$8.91 PKR 2,474

56.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.20 PKR 890

68.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.76 PKR 487

-11.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$3.26 PKR 906

8.28%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$0.89 PKR 248

92.13%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.24 PKR 66.8

29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.16 PKR 45.10

43.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.59 PKR 164

45.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.59 PKR 165

-10.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.07 PKR 298

21.50%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.07 PKR 297

4.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$4.26 PKR 1,183

41.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 954

$2.16 PKR 600

58.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.15 PKR 875

39.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.86 PKR 238

17.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.72 PKR 201

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.58 PKR 160

46.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.48 PKR 133

-2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.40 PKR 112

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.39 PKR 109

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.61 PKR 169

-60.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.29 PKR 79.4

34.48%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.88 PKR 521

753.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.57 PKR 435

-36.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$1.94 PKR 539

23.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 532

$2.01 PKR 557

-4.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.15 PKR 42.71

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$6.90 PKR 1,915

37.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.08 PKR 301

-20.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.44 PKR 122

-27.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.43 PKR 398

104.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.00 PKR 277

-3.00%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-21.35%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

3.57%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$105 PKR 29.0K

-0.85%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$3.13 PKR 870

29.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$13.57 PKR 3,767

22.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$14.31 PKR 3,972

-30.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$5.96 PKR 1,656

24.66%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$2.70 PKR 749

28.52%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$17.70 PKR 4,914

127.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$880 PKR 244.3K

7.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$12.56 PKR 3,489

-5.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$21.30 PKR 5,915

-13.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

68.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,053

$28.66 PKR 7,959

1.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$79.8 PKR 22.2K

66.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$61.0 PKR 16.9K

6.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$113 PKR 31.4K

191.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$95.5 PKR 26.5K

78.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$529 PKR 146.9K

122.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$442 PKR 122.8K

17.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$90.9 PKR 25.3K

92.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

17.43

15.72%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 92% 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 Rahim Yar Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $75.0 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 19% 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 92% 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Rawalpindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Rahim Yar Khan – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 19% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.