🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $340 in Sialkot versus $429 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $488 in Sialkot versus $679 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $636 in Sialkot versus $929 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Living in Sialkot costs roughly 21% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sialkot75% lower, Rawalpindi68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.04PKR 290
$1.78PKR 496
-41.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$6.91PKR 1,922
$14.22PKR 3,957
-51.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.67PKR 743
$5.29PKR 1,470
-49.53%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75PKR 486
$1.54PKR 429
13.64%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60PKR 1,000
$3.40PKR 947
5.88%
Cappuccino
$1.50PKR 416
$1.73PKR 481
-13.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.32PKR 88.9
21.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19PKR 51.9
$0.23PKR 64.2
-17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.77PKR 213
$0.79PKR 219
-2.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 156
$0.57PKR 158
-1.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 325
$1.23PKR 343
-4.88%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 334
$1.12PKR 311
7.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42PKR 1,229
$6.09PKR 1,693
-27.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.60PKR 723
$3.39PKR 944
-23.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.93PKR 1,094
$4.57PKR 1,271
-14.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05PKR 291
$1.02PKR 283
2.94%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69PKR 193
$0.67PKR 186
2.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 258
$0.92PKR 257
1.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.47PKR 132
21.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 107
$0.33PKR 93.2
18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56PKR 157
$0.52PKR 144
7.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34PKR 93.4
$0.26PKR 72.7
30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35PKR 98.1
$0.37PKR 102
-5.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.48PKR 411
$16.44PKR 4,573
-91.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87PKR 242
$1.04PKR 288
-16.35%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98PKR 550
$2.41PKR 669
-17.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09PKR 582
$1.90PKR 528
10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15PKR 42.83
$0.18PKR 49.36
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.57PKR 2,940
$9.89PKR 2,751
6.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68PKR 190
$0.91PKR 253
-25.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.35PKR 97.5
25.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.81PKR 781
$2.97PKR 826
-5.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92PKR 255
$0.96PKR 267
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KPKR 5.8M
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
15.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KPKR 7.4M
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
17.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111PKR 30.9K
$100PKR 28.0K
10.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.27PKR 911
$3.99PKR 1,111
-18.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.03PKR 1,677
$16.64PKR 4,630
-63.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$6.97PKR 1,939
$10.14PKR 2,821
-31.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.18PKR 1,442
$7.67PKR 2,134
-32.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15PKR 1,156
$3.60PKR 1,003
15.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$20.91PKR 5,818
$39.75PKR 11.1K
-47.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$264PKR 73.4K
$962PKR 267.6K
-72.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.35PKR 3,156
$11.80PKR 3,282
-3.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.30PKR 3,701
$18.84PKR 5,242
-29.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.88PKR 7,479
$87.8PKR 24.4K
-69.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$21.02PKR 5,848
$28.38PKR 7,896
-25.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$48.17PKR 13.4K
$130PKR 36.1K
-62.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$32.36PKR 9,003
$66.4PKR 18.5K
-51.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 30.0K
$324PKR 90.1K
-66.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.8PKR 18.0K
$173PKR 48.1K
-62.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,173PKR 326.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$516PKR 143.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$154PKR 42.9K
$171PKR 47.6K
-9.84%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $48.17 in Sialkot and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rawalpindi pays 11% 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 $85.0 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 Rawalpindi?
Sialkot and Rawalpindi differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($340 vs $429 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, Rawalpindi earns 11% less. 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 Rawalpindi?
Rent for a central apartment: $48.17 in Sialkot versus $130 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 $340 per month in Sialkot versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $800 go in Sialkot vs 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 26% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.