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: $431 in Rawalpindi versus $452 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $665 in Rawalpindi versus $670 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $899 in Rawalpindi versus $887 in Sheikhupura.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 5% less than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.78 PKR 772

-35.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.27 PKR 3,959

$14.03 PKR 3,895

1.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 PKR 1,460

$5.39 PKR 1,497

-2.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 PKR 445

$1.80 PKR 499

-11.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 950

$3.96 PKR 1,099

-13.64%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 460

$2.05 PKR 568

-19.02%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.42 PKR 118

-19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.22 PKR 60.9

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.54 PKR 150

46.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.54 PKR 151

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.04 PKR 287

25.00%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.21 PKR 337

-5.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 PKR 1,660

$6.17 PKR 1,711

-3.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 906

$1.75 PKR 487

86.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,240

$2.88 PKR 799

55.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 286

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.77 PKR 214

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.91 PKR 251

-7.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.55 PKR 153

-9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.42 PKR 116

-11.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.57 PKR 158

-8.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.31 PKR 84.8

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.37 PKR 104

8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.96 PKR 4,429

$1.42 PKR 393

1023.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.88 PKR 243

15.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 658

$1.95 PKR 540

21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 533

$2.07 PKR 575

-7.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.6

$0.17 PKR 46.80

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 PKR 2,663

$6.99 PKR 1,939

37.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.89 PKR 248

-4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.43 PKR 120

-25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 PKR 858

$2.87 PKR 798

7.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.90 PKR 251

5.56%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-19.02%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

-12.63%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$113 PKR 31.5K

-11.18%

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

$3.96 PKR 1,100

$5.46 PKR 1,516

-27.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.35 PKR 4,537

$18.60 PKR 5,163

-12.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.86 PKR 2,736

$12.62 PKR 3,502

-21.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 PKR 2,060

$5.90 PKR 1,638

25.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.57 PKR 990

$4.19 PKR 1,163

-14.80%

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

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

-31.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$963 PKR 267.2K

$1,088 PKR 302.1K

-11.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.74 PKR 3,258

$21.69 PKR 6,021

-45.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.96 PKR 5,263

$27.57 PKR 7,652

-31.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

3.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.12 PKR 8,081

$39.70 PKR 11.0K

-26.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

77.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

30.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.8K

$168 PKR 46.7K

98.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$108 PKR 29.9K

60.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

$859 PKR 238.3K

32.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.6K

$531 PKR 147.4K

-3.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $75.0 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 $94.0 vs $80.0, 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 5% in total monthly costs ($431 vs $452 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $646 in Rawalpindi and $678 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 $75.0 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 $431 per month in Rawalpindi versus $452 in Sheikhupura – a 5% 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 5% less than in Sheikhupura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.