Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Sialkot Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Sialkot

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $495 in Rawalpindi versus $349 in Sialkot.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Rawalpindi versus $508 in Sialkot.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Rawalpindi versus $668 in Sialkot.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 42% more expensive than in Sialkot, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 64% lower, Sialkot 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 PKR 569

$1.11 PKR 307

84.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.07 PKR 4,452

$7.29 PKR 2,019

120.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PKR 1,617

$5.27 PKR 1,461

10.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 487

$3.58 PKR 992

-50.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 PKR 971

$2.83 PKR 785

23.67%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 549

$1.58 PKR 438

25.32%

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

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.30 PKR 81.9

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.23 PKR 62.4

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.85 PKR 236

7.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.63 PKR 175

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.03 PKR 286

19.42%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 308

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PKR 1,752

$4.13 PKR 1,144

53.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 990

$1.66 PKR 460

115.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 PKR 1,398

$5.32 PKR 1,474

-5.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$1.16 PKR 320

3.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.57 PKR 157

47.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$0.78 PKR 216

56.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.49 PKR 136

8.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.5

$0.28 PKR 78.4

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 91.1

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.30 PKR 83.9

3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.40 PKR 111

7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.09 PKR 4,458

$1.46 PKR 405

1002.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.09 PKR 302

4.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 657

$2.68 PKR 741

-11.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.37 PKR 656

-18.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.5

$0.20 PKR 56.1

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,767

$11.02 PKR 3,054

-9.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.23 PKR 340

-24.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.1

$0.41 PKR 114

-14.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 PKR 861

$1.59 PKR 440

95.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.19 PKR 331

-5.04%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$19.5K PKR 5.4M

-8.13%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

1.50%

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

$113 PKR 31.2K

$103 PKR 28.6K

9.17%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,537

$5.84 PKR 1,617

-4.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 PKR 5,229

$15.99 PKR 4,429

18.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 PKR 3,354

$7.35 PKR 2,035

64.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

$5.38 PKR 1,489

26.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,179

$4.28 PKR 1,186

-0.47%

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

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

$20.06 PKR 5,558

142.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$833 PKR 230.8K

$274 PKR 76.0K

203.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.41 PKR 5,653

$14.69 PKR 4,069

38.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 PKR 7,993

$17.40 PKR 4,821

65.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 PKR 26.0K

$26.55 PKR 7,354

252.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

$21.69 PKR 6,008

66.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PKR 55.6K

$49.17 PKR 13.6K

307.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

$32.88 PKR 9,107

152.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 PKR 118.6K

$108 PKR 29.8K

297.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 PKR 62.6K

$68.0 PKR 18.8K

232.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,170 PKR 324.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 PKR 140.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$156 PKR 43.2K

11.25%

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 Sialkot: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Rawalpindi and $49.17 in Sialkot. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 11% 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: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $7.00 in Sialkot for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $82.0 per month, with Sialkot 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 Sialkot: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Sialkot differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($495 vs $349 including rent). Sialkot is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 11% 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: $201 in Rawalpindi versus $49.17 in Sialkot. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sialkot – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. 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 $349 in Sialkot – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Sialkot 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 Sialkot gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.