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: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $423 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $635 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $848 in Wah.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 19% more expensive than in Wah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Wah 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$1.85 PKR 512

14.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,416

$10.91 PKR 3,024

46.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,633

$5.31 PKR 1,473

10.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.46 PKR 681

-26.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 976

$2.14 PKR 592

64.49%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 538

$1.28 PKR 356

51.56%

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

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.30 PKR 84.6

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.26 PKR 72.3

-3.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.78 PKR 217

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.60 PKR 166

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.23 PKR 341

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.19 PKR 331

-6.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,708

$8.54 PKR 2,367

-27.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 988

$2.57 PKR 712

38.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,446

$3.96 PKR 1,097

31.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.08 PKR 299

5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.66 PKR 183

30.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$0.54 PKR 149

127.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.51 PKR 140

11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.31 PKR 86.2

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.53 PKR 146

-13.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.51 PKR 141

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.43 PKR 118

-6.98%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,515

$0.53 PKR 146

2971.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$0.53 PKR 146

126.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 681

$0.70 PKR 193

251.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.35 PKR 651

-17.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.62

$0.20 PKR 56.4

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,807

$11.14 PKR 3,088

-9.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.06 PKR 293

-14.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$1.10 PKR 305

-65.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 876

$2.87 PKR 796

10.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$1.11 PKR 309

1.80%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-21.04%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

8.81%

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

$115 PKR 31.9K

$67.2 PKR 18.6K

71.12%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,522

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-0.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,175

$14.31 PKR 3,968

30.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,361

$13.69 PKR 3,795

-11.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,872

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$7.14 PKR 1,980

-40.06%

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

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$26.72 PKR 7,408

81.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 234.0K

$2,048 PKR 567.9K

-58.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,780

$18.69 PKR 5,182

11.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,771

$26.49 PKR 7,345

5.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$54.2 PKR 15.0K

68.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$29.16 PKR 8,084

24.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.7K

$118 PKR 32.8K

72.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

9.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.5K

$266 PKR 73.7K

64.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$140 PKR 38.8K

61.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

$911 PKR 252.6K

27.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.1K

$554 PKR 153.6K

-7.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

11.83

92.81%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Wah: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Rawalpindi and $118 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Wah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $97.0 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 19% in total monthly costs ($504 vs $423 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $756 in Rawalpindi and $635 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: $204 in Rawalpindi versus $118 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $504 per month in Rawalpindi versus $423 in Wah – a 19% 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 19% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.