Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Wah Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Wah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $346 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $540 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $735 in Wah.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 26% more expensive than in Wah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Wah 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.73 PKR 481

5.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$10.78 PKR 2,994

29.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.48 PKR 965

55.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$2.78 PKR 772

-43.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$4.72 PKR 1,310

-25.21%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.27 PKR 352

34.65%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.33 PKR 92.9

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.75 PKR 208

14.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.60 PKR 165

-11.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.26 PKR 349

3.17%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.14 PKR 317

-1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$6.16 PKR 1,711

-2.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$2.66 PKR 740

28.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.21 PKR 891

37.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.02 PKR 284

-0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.59 PKR 163

16.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.63 PKR 174

34.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.56 PKR 155

-16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.38 PKR 104

-10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.51 PKR 140

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.59 PKR 163

-59.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$0.98 PKR 271

1536.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.72 PKR 200

37.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$2.04 PKR 566

17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.82 PKR 507

4.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.18 PKR 50.8

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$7.18 PKR 1,994

32.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.08 PKR 300

-20.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.44 PKR 122

-27.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.75 PKR 485

66.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.98 PKR 272

-1.02%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-20.72%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

5.73%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

80.55%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$3.83 PKR 1,063

5.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$12.99 PKR 3,607

28.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$12.44 PKR 3,456

-19.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$5.85 PKR 1,624

27.01%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$3.58 PKR 994

-3.07%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$27.98 PKR 7,769

43.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,141 PKR 316.8K

-16.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$16.17 PKR 4,491

-26.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$21.93 PKR 6,090

-15.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

45.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$25.77 PKR 7,154

12.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

76.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

24.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$168 PKR 46.7K

96.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$106 PKR 29.4K

61.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$974 PKR 270.5K

20.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$417 PKR 115.8K

24.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

12.06%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Wah: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $75.3 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Wah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $88.0 per month, with Wah 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 Wah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Wah differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($437 vs $346 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $656 in Rawalpindi and $519 in Wah 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 $75.3 in Wah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Wah – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $346 in Wah – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Wah 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.

Safety-wise, Rawalpindi and Wah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Wah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.