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: $495 in Rawalpindi versus $509 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Rawalpindi versus $795 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Rawalpindi versus $1,081 in Sheikhupura.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 3% less than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 64% lower, Sheikhupura 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 PKR 569

$3.66 PKR 1,013

-43.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.07 PKR 4,451

$23.26 PKR 6,443

-30.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PKR 1,617

$5.51 PKR 1,526

5.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$3.51 PKR 971

-49.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 PKR 971

$6.76 PKR 1,873

-48.22%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 549

$2.53 PKR 701

-21.74%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.33 PKR 90.3

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.21 PKR 57.9

19.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.95 PKR 262

-4.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.80 PKR 222

-32.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.25 PKR 348

-1.60%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.27 PKR 351

-12.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,752

$6.03 PKR 1,670

4.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 990

$3.19 PKR 884

11.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 PKR 1,397

$5.23 PKR 1,448

-3.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.27 PKR 351

-5.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.86 PKR 238

-2.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.08 PKR 299

12.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.53 PKR 147

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.4

$0.26 PKR 71.9

38.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 90.3

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.28 PKR 76.6

10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.09 PKR 4,457

$1.79 PKR 496

798.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.23 PKR 342

-7.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 657

$2.59 PKR 718

-8.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.40 PKR 664

-19.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.4

$0.21 PKR 57.0

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,767

$8.81 PKR 2,441

13.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.24 PKR 343

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.1

$0.69 PKR 190

-49.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 PKR 861

$1.65 PKR 456

88.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.30 PKR 360

-13.08%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

-18.37%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$24.4K PKR 6.7M

-0.98%

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

$113 PKR 31.2K

$104 PKR 28.7K

8.84%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,537

$5.78 PKR 1,602

-3.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 PKR 5,229

$15.94 PKR 4,415

18.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 PKR 3,353

$14.98 PKR 4,148

-19.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,179

$4.44 PKR 1,229

-4.05%

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

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

-35.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$833 PKR 230.7K

$997 PKR 276.1K

-16.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.41 PKR 5,652

$24.52 PKR 6,791

-16.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 PKR 7,992

$35.37 PKR 9,797

-18.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 PKR 25.9K

$97.1 PKR 26.9K

-3.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

$40.46 PKR 11.2K

-10.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.6K

$145 PKR 40.1K

38.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

$79.9 PKR 22.1K

3.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 PKR 118.6K

$258 PKR 71.5K

65.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$142 PKR 39.3K

59.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,170 PKR 324.0K

$968 PKR 268.1K

20.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 PKR 140.5K

$516 PKR 143.1K

-1.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

13.08

74.39%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $145 in Sheikhupura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $23.00 in Sheikhupura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $103 per month, with Rawalpindi 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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($495 vs $509 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $742 in Rawalpindi and $763 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: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $145 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 $16.00 versus $23.00 in Sheikhupura. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $495 per month in Rawalpindi versus $509 in Sheikhupura – a 3% 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 3% less than in Sheikhupura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.