Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi versus $455 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $666 in Rawalpindi versus $682 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $909 in Rawalpindi versus $909 in Sheikhupura.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 7% less than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Sheikhupura 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.79 PKR 774

-35.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.12 PKR 3,926

$14.41 PKR 4,005

-2.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 PKR 1,495

$5.17 PKR 1,437

4.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 PKR 435

$1.72 PKR 478

-8.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 975

$3.87 PKR 1,075

-9.30%

Cappuccino

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.98 PKR 552

-13.13%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.7

$0.43 PKR 119

-20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.56 PKR 155

41.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.51 PKR 143

9.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 346

$1.04 PKR 289

19.23%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.27 PKR 352

-7.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 PKR 1,654

$6.35 PKR 1,766

-6.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 PKR 939

$1.75 PKR 486

93.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$2.77 PKR 770

60.29%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.05 PKR 291

-10.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 179

$0.79 PKR 219

-18.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.88 PKR 244

-2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.42 PKR 116

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.57 PKR 157

-14.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.2

$0.33 PKR 92.1

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.41 PKR 113

-12.20%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.46 PKR 4,576

$1.45 PKR 404

1035.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.91 PKR 253

14.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 635

$1.95 PKR 542

16.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.08 PKR 579

-4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.86

$0.16 PKR 45.40

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.93 PKR 2,762

$7.12 PKR 1,978

39.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.87 PKR 241

-1.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 PKR 99.0

$0.40 PKR 111

-10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 PKR 821

$2.78 PKR 773

6.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.97 PKR 271

1.03%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-18.22%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-10.85%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-10.02%

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

$3.97 PKR 1,104

$5.47 PKR 1,521

-27.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.55 PKR 4,601

$18.56 PKR 5,161

-10.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.13 PKR 2,816

$12.54 PKR 3,486

-19.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.47 PKR 2,076

$5.82 PKR 1,618

28.35%

Cinema Ticket

$3.63 PKR 1,010

$4.16 PKR 1,157

-12.74%

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

$39.82 PKR 11.1K

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

-34.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$969 PKR 269.3K

$1,127 PKR 313.3K

-14.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.62 PKR 3,229

$21.07 PKR 5,859

-44.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 PKR 5,282

$27.55 PKR 7,659

-31.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 PKR 24.8K

$88.4 PKR 24.6K

0.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.78 PKR 8,001

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

-29.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

75.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.3 PKR 18.2K

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

26.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 91.0K

$170 PKR 47.2K

92.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$104 PKR 28.9K

65.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,142 PKR 317.4K

$765 PKR 212.7K

49.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$505 PKR 140.3K

$429 PKR 119.4K

17.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 PKR 47.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

20.2

-0.15%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 13, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $14.00 in Sheikhupura. Groceries flip the comparison at $93.0 vs $81.0, with Sheikhupura cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $455 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $634 in Rawalpindi and $682 in Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Rawalpindi versus $455 in Sheikhupura – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Sheikhupura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.