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 $451 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $663 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $917 in Rawalpindi versus $876 in Sheikhupura.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 6% less than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.89 PKR 805

-39.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.30 PKR 3,985

$14.39 PKR 4,011

-0.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 PKR 1,501

$5.43 PKR 1,514

-0.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 PKR 454

$1.73 PKR 483

-5.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 985

$3.90 PKR 1,088

-9.49%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 477

$2.08 PKR 581

-17.79%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.8

$0.43 PKR 120

-27.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 238

$0.55 PKR 153

54.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.55 PKR 154

-5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 360

$1.09 PKR 303

18.35%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 329

$1.21 PKR 338

-2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,724

$6.34 PKR 1,768

-2.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 PKR 959

$1.82 PKR 508

89.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.46 PKR 1,244

$2.90 PKR 807

53.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 280

$1.01 PKR 281

-0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.78 PKR 216

-17.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.96 PKR 267

-10.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.57 PKR 158

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.39 PKR 109

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.58 PKR 161

-15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.3

$0.33 PKR 92.0

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.38 PKR 105

-5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.92 PKR 4,437

$1.39 PKR 387

1045.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 277

$0.92 PKR 257

7.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 PKR 643

$1.96 PKR 547

17.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 541

$2.06 PKR 575

-5.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.8

$0.20 PKR 54.7

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 PKR 2,774

$6.95 PKR 1,937

43.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.85 PKR 238

-1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.41 PKR 114

-14.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 PKR 856

$2.88 PKR 803

6.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.91 PKR 254

6.59%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-16.98%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-12.87%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$111 PKR 30.9K

-7.35%

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

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$5.53 PKR 1,543

-28.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.31 PKR 4,545

$18.40 PKR 5,129

-11.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 PKR 2,784

$12.31 PKR 3,430

-18.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 PKR 2,097

$5.83 PKR 1,624

28.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 PKR 1,015

$4.14 PKR 1,155

-12.08%

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

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

-34.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$953 PKR 265.7K

$1,102 PKR 307.1K

-13.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 PKR 3,246

$21.06 PKR 5,870

-44.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.40 PKR 5,131

$28.26 PKR 7,877

-34.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

$86.8 PKR 24.2K

2.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.47 PKR 7,937

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

-29.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.2K

$73.8 PKR 20.6K

76.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

$50.9 PKR 14.2K

26.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 91.2K

$166 PKR 46.2K

97.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 PKR 48.5K

$108 PKR 30.2K

60.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 PKR 323.0K

$761 PKR 212.1K

52.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 PKR 145.4K

$613 PKR 170.9K

-14.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 PKR 48.4K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $73.8 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 $95.0 vs $82.0, 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 7% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $451 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $635 in Rawalpindi and $676 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $73.8 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 $451 in Sheikhupura – a 7% 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 7% less than in Sheikhupura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.