Cost of Living Comparison Between Sheikhupura and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sheikhupura and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $508 in Sheikhupura versus $503 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $784 in Sheikhupura versus $776 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,061 in Sheikhupura versus $1,050 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Sheikhupura is roughly 1% more expensive than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sheikhupura 63% lower, Rawalpindi 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51 PKR 971
$2.09 PKR 580
67.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.04 PKR 6,384
$16.42 PKR 4,548
40.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.37 PKR 1,489
$5.81 PKR 1,611
-7.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 PKR 985
$1.84 PKR 511
92.93%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 PKR 1,860
$3.48 PKR 963
92.82%
Cappuccino
$2.41 PKR 669
$1.92 PKR 532
25.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 PKR 97.7
$0.40 PKR 111
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 PKR 60.7
$0.25 PKR 69.4
-12.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 PKR 259
$0.86 PKR 239
9.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 PKR 218
$0.59 PKR 163
33.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 PKR 347
$1.20 PKR 333
4.17%
Eggs
$1.29 PKR 357
$1.15 PKR 318
12.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.10 PKR 1,690
$6.21 PKR 1,721
-1.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 PKR 872
$3.47 PKR 962
-9.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.08 PKR 1,407
$5.18 PKR 1,436
-1.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 PKR 355
$1.19 PKR 329
7.56%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 PKR 231
$0.85 PKR 236
-2.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 284
$1.27 PKR 352
-18.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.46 PKR 127
$0.57 PKR 157
-19.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.27 PKR 74.3
$0.38 PKR 107
-28.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 98.8
$0.49 PKR 135
-26.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 PKR 80.6
$0.33 PKR 92.3
-12.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 107
$0.42 PKR 117
-7.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.84 PKR 509
$15.90 PKR 4,406
-88.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 PKR 365
$1.18 PKR 327
11.86%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 PKR 663
$2.44 PKR 677
-2.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 PKR 645
$1.94 PKR 539
20.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 55.8
$0.19 PKR 53.2
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.65 PKR 2,673
$10.07 PKR 2,789
-4.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 PKR 345
$0.94 PKR 261
31.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 PKR 194
$0.34 PKR 93.9
105.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.66 PKR 459
$3.14 PKR 869
-47.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 PKR 352
$1.17 PKR 323
8.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K PKR 6.1M
$17.7K PKR 4.9M
24.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K PKR 6.9M
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
3.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 PKR 28.7K
$112 PKR 31.1K
-7.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.63 PKR 1,560
$5.76 PKR 1,594
-2.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.42 PKR 4,550
$18.29 PKR 5,067
-10.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.89 PKR 4,126
$11.83 PKR 3,278
25.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.79 PKR 1,881
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 PKR 1,372
$4.30 PKR 1,191
15.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.9 PKR 21.0K
$48.80 PKR 13.5K
55.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$998 PKR 276.4K
$852 PKR 235.9K
17.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.28 PKR 6,727
$20.89 PKR 5,787
16.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 PKR 8,921
$28.53 PKR 7,903
12.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 PKR 22.7K
$93.5 PKR 25.9K
-12.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.16 PKR 10.8K
$35.66 PKR 9,879
9.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$128 PKR 35.6K
$201 PKR 55.7K
-36.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.3 PKR 21.7K
$82.3 PKR 22.8K
-4.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 PKR 70.4K
$430 PKR 119.1K
-40.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 PKR 41.8K
$226 PKR 62.6K
-33.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$922 PKR 255.5K
$1,149 PKR 318.2K
-19.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$516 PKR 142.8K
$517 PKR 143.2K
-0.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sheikhupura
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 PKR 48.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.08
22.81
-42.66%

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

Last update for Sheikhupura: September 8, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $128 in Sheikhupura and $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sheikhupura vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi. Groceries flip the comparison at $102 vs $103, with Sheikhupura cheaper for home cooking.

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
Sheikhupura vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sheikhupura and in Rawalpindi?
Sheikhupura and Rawalpindi differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($508 vs $503 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Sheikhupura compared to Rawalpindi?
You'd need roughly $762 in Sheikhupura and $755 in Rawalpindi 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Sheikhupura and in Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $128 in Sheikhupura versus $201 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 $16.00 versus $23.00 in Sheikhupura. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sheikhupura or Rawalpindi?
All in, you'll spend $508 per month in Sheikhupura versus $503 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 Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura 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: Sheikhupura or Rawalpindi?
Expats usually find Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Sheikhupura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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