😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $441 in Sargodha versus $437 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $667 in Sargodha versus $671 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $892 in Sargodha versus $905 in Rawalpindi.
🌍Living in Sargodha is roughly 1% more expensive than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sargodha67% lower, Rawalpindi67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39PKR 386
$1.82PKR 505
-23.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.21PKR 3,947
$13.95PKR 3,873
1.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38PKR 1,494
$5.40PKR 1,499
-0.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73PKR 480
$1.56PKR 433
10.90%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84PKR 1,066
$3.53PKR 980
8.78%
Cappuccino
$2.00PKR 556
$1.71PKR 474
16.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 118
$0.31PKR 87.1
35.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 60.8
$0.23PKR 63.9
-4.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74PKR 206
$0.86PKR 239
-13.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.53PKR 146
26.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$1.30PKR 361
-5.38%
Eggs
$0.69PKR 193
$1.12PKR 312
-38.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.31PKR 1,752
$6.03PKR 1,674
4.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.91PKR 530
$3.43PKR 953
-44.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.47PKR 1,242
$4.40PKR 1,221
1.59%
Apples(1kg)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.01PKR 280
-45.54%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85PKR 236
$0.69PKR 191
23.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94PKR 262
$0.85PKR 236
10.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.47PKR 129
21.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.34PKR 94.1
14.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53PKR 148
$0.52PKR 145
1.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.2
$0.24PKR 66.0
41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.39PKR 109
-5.13%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.46PKR 407
$16.04PKR 4,454
-90.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86PKR 238
$0.99PKR 274
-13.13%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01PKR 558
$2.40PKR 666
-16.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09PKR 580
$1.91PKR 531
9.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15PKR 42.94
$0.20PKR 56.1
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.26PKR 2,016
$9.52PKR 2,645
-23.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84PKR 234
$0.86PKR 240
-2.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.32PKR 89.7
34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.79PKR 774
$2.92PKR 811
-4.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 264
$0.97PKR 270
-2.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KPKR 5.8M
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
19.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KPKR 7.4M
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
16.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113PKR 31.4K
$104PKR 28.8K
8.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41PKR 1,502
$4.04PKR 1,121
33.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.97PKR 5,267
$16.63PKR 4,618
14.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.25PKR 3,401
$9.97PKR 2,768
22.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.91PKR 1,640
$7.43PKR 2,062
-20.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14PKR 1,149
$3.47PKR 964
19.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$59.7PKR 16.6K
$40.20PKR 11.2K
48.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,097PKR 304.7K
$948PKR 263.3K
15.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.36PKR 5,931
$11.90PKR 3,304
79.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.18PKR 7,825
$18.45PKR 5,124
52.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.4PKR 24.8K
$89.5PKR 24.9K
-0.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.40PKR 11.2K
$29.00PKR 8,052
39.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.8PKR 21.0K
$133PKR 36.8K
-42.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.5PKR 14.6K
$65.1PKR 18.1K
-19.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170PKR 47.1K
$330PKR 91.6K
-48.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$105PKR 29.2K
$171PKR 47.4K
-38.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$872PKR 242.0K
$1,176PKR 326.5K
-25.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$478PKR 132.8K
$518PKR 143.8K
-7.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sargodha
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$180PKR 50.0K
$175PKR 48.5K
3.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14
20.17
-30.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sargodha: July 11, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.8 in Sargodha and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sargodha pays 3% 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: $14.00 in Sargodha vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $86.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Sargodha 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
Sargodha vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sargodha and in Rawalpindi?
Sargodha and Rawalpindi differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($441 vs $437 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sargodha or Rawalpindi?
Average pay runs 3% higher in Sargodha, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Sargodha and in Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $75.8 in Sargodha versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Rawalpindi – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $14.00 in Sargodha. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sargodha or Rawalpindi?
All in, you'll spend $441 per month in Sargodha versus $437 in Rawalpindi – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Sargodha compared to Rawalpindi?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Sargodha and Rawalpindi?
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.
Where should expats move: Sargodha or Rawalpindi?
Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Sargodha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.