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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $347 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $528 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $709 in Wah.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 24% more expensive than Wah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Wah 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.81 PKR 503

-1.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$10.44 PKR 2,906

36.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$3.51 PKR 976

50.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$2.85 PKR 794

-45.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$4.78 PKR 1,330

-28.87%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.28 PKR 355

35.16%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.34 PKR 93.3

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.24 PKR 67.2

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.75 PKR 209

5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.60 PKR 166

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.26 PKR 351

-2.38%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.14 PKR 318

-1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$6.11 PKR 1,700

-0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.55 PKR 710

32.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$3.16 PKR 879

44.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.60 PKR 166

11.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.62 PKR 173

48.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.52 PKR 144

-9.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.37 PKR 103

-10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.55 PKR 153

-5.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.62 PKR 173

-58.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.43 PKR 119

-13.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$0.95 PKR 263

1630.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.73 PKR 203

42.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.99 PKR 552

21.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.87 PKR 521

1.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.16 PKR 44.82

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$7.11 PKR 1,978

39.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.05 PKR 291

-13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.40 PKR 111

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.81 PKR 504

64.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.94 PKR 261

2.13%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-19.17%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

6.15%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$57.8 PKR 16.1K

73.96%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$3.78 PKR 1,052

5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$13.03 PKR 3,624

27.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$12.61 PKR 3,508

-19.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$5.90 PKR 1,643

30.00%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$3.60 PKR 1,001

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$28.34 PKR 7,883

40.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,133 PKR 315.3K

-15.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$16.04 PKR 4,461

-26.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$21.88 PKR 6,087

-13.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

46.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$25.53 PKR 7,101

11.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

72.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$52.7 PKR 14.7K

25.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$166 PKR 46.1K

95.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$105 PKR 29.2K

64.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$1,113 PKR 309.5K

5.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$583 PKR 162.2K

-11.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Wah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $75.2 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $10.00 in Wah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $87.0 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 24% in total monthly costs ($429 vs $347 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $644 in Rawalpindi and $520 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $75.2 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 $10.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $347 in Wah – a 24% 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 24% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.