🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $343 in Sialkot versus $437 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $486 in Sialkot versus $671 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $629 in Sialkot versus $905 in Rawalpindi.
🌍Living in Sialkot costs roughly 21% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sialkot74% lower, Rawalpindi67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.07PKR 298
$1.82PKR 505
-41.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.25PKR 2,012
$13.95PKR 3,873
-48.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.69PKR 746
$5.40PKR 1,499
-50.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 502
$1.56PKR 433
16.03%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56PKR 989
$3.53PKR 980
0.85%
Cappuccino
$1.45PKR 404
$1.71PKR 474
-15.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.31PKR 87.1
25.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 54.8
$0.23PKR 63.9
-13.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71PKR 197
$0.86PKR 239
-17.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 159
$0.53PKR 146
7.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12PKR 311
$1.30PKR 361
-13.85%
Eggs
$1.19PKR 332
$1.12PKR 312
6.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34PKR 1,204
$6.03PKR 1,674
-28.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.67PKR 741
$3.43PKR 954
-22.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.04PKR 1,122
$4.40PKR 1,221
-8.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05PKR 291
$1.01PKR 280
3.96%
Banana(1kg)
$0.66PKR 183
$0.69PKR 191
-4.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94PKR 262
$0.85PKR 236
10.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55PKR 154
$0.47PKR 129
17.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.34PKR 94.1
14.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.52PKR 145
9.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.2
$0.24PKR 66.0
37.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 99.0
$0.39PKR 109
-7.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.47PKR 408
$16.04PKR 4,454
-90.84%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92PKR 254
$0.99PKR 274
-7.07%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99PKR 552
$2.40PKR 666
-17.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17PKR 604
$1.91PKR 532
13.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.87
$0.20PKR 56.1
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.56PKR 2,933
$9.52PKR 2,645
10.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73PKR 202
$0.86PKR 240
-15.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.32PKR 89.7
34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75PKR 764
$2.92PKR 811
-5.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 266
$0.97PKR 270
-1.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
21.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KPKR 7.4M
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
16.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.2K
$104PKR 28.8K
8.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.42PKR 950
$4.04PKR 1,121
-15.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.34PKR 1,760
$16.63PKR 4,618
-61.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.12PKR 1,978
$9.97PKR 2,768
-28.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.42PKR 1,506
$7.43PKR 2,062
-27.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34PKR 1,204
$3.47PKR 964
25.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$20.91PKR 5,806
$40.20PKR 11.2K
-47.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$269PKR 74.7K
$948PKR 263.3K
-71.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.15PKR 3,097
$11.90PKR 3,304
-6.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.35PKR 3,708
$18.45PKR 5,124
-27.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.47PKR 7,351
$89.5PKR 24.9K
-70.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$21.49PKR 5,968
$29.00PKR 8,053
-25.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$48.60PKR 13.5K
$133PKR 36.8K
-63.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$31.65PKR 8,788
$65.1PKR 18.1K
-51.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$107PKR 29.7K
$330PKR 91.6K
-67.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.5PKR 18.2K
$171PKR 47.4K
-61.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,176PKR 326.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$518PKR 143.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$150PKR 41.7K
$175PKR 48.5K
-13.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.2
20.17
0.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sialkot: July 12, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $48.60 in Sialkot and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rawalpindi pays 16% 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: $7.00 in Sialkot vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Sialkot 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
Sialkot vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sialkot and in Rawalpindi?
Sialkot and Rawalpindi differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($343 vs $437 including rent). Sialkot is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Rawalpindi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sialkot and in Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $48.60 in Sialkot 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 Sialkot – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sialkot or Rawalpindi?
All in, you'll spend $343 per month in Sialkot versus $437 in Rawalpindi – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $800 go in Sialkot compared to Rawalpindi?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Sialkot 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 Sialkot 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: Sialkot or Rawalpindi?
Expats usually find Sialkot gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.