🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $359 in Sialkot versus $504 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $518 in Sialkot versus $786 in Rawalpindi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $676 in Sialkot versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.
🌍Living in Sialkot costs roughly 29% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sialkot74% lower, Rawalpindi63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.09PKR 302
$2.12PKR 588
-48.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.40PKR 2,051
$15.93PKR 4,415
-53.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.56PKR 1,540
$5.89PKR 1,633
-5.60%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54PKR 981
$1.81PKR 502
95.58%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84PKR 789
$3.52PKR 976
-19.32%
Cappuccino
$1.60PKR 445
$1.94PKR 537
-17.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29PKR 81.7
$0.44PKR 122
-34.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 57.8
$0.25PKR 69.4
-16.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.90PKR 250
1.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63PKR 174
$0.55PKR 152
14.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00PKR 277
$1.23PKR 342
-18.70%
Eggs
$1.07PKR 297
$1.11PKR 307
-3.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.05PKR 1,124
$6.16PKR 1,708
-34.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.76PKR 488
$3.57PKR 988
-50.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.30PKR 1,470
$5.22PKR 1,446
1.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16PKR 321
$1.14PKR 316
1.75%
Banana(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.86PKR 237
-33.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.78PKR 215
$1.23PKR 340
-36.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.57PKR 158
-14.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29PKR 80.7
$0.36PKR 99.3
-19.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.32PKR 89.6
$0.46PKR 127
-30.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.29PKR 81.5
$0.33PKR 92.1
-12.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 116
$0.40PKR 111
5.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.47PKR 407
$16.28PKR 4,514
-90.97%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10PKR 304
$1.20PKR 332
-8.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46PKR 682
$2.46PKR 681
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35PKR 651
$1.93PKR 534
21.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.38
$0.16PKR 43.61
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.71PKR 2,969
$10.12PKR 2,806
5.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29PKR 358
$0.91PKR 253
41.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42PKR 116
$0.38PKR 104
10.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.59PKR 441
$3.16PKR 876
-49.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22PKR 337
$1.13PKR 312
7.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KPKR 5.5M
$18.2KPKR 5.1M
9.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KPKR 6.7M
$25.0KPKR 6.9M
-3.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.9K
$115PKR 31.9K
-9.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.61PKR 1,555
$5.49PKR 1,522
2.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.95PKR 4,420
$18.67PKR 5,174
-14.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.12PKR 1,973
$12.12PKR 3,360
-41.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.27PKR 1,461
$6.75PKR 1,871
-21.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.91PKR 1,362
$4.28PKR 1,187
14.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$19.84PKR 5,500
$48.47PKR 13.4K
-59.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$275PKR 76.1K
$844PKR 233.9K
-67.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.48PKR 4,013
$20.85PKR 5,779
-30.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.85PKR 4,669
$28.03PKR 7,769
-39.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.57PKR 7,366
$91.0PKR 25.2K
-70.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$21.37PKR 5,923
$36.28PKR 10.1K
-41.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$49.52PKR 13.7K
$204PKR 56.6K
-75.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$32.08PKR 8,892
$82.0PKR 22.7K
-60.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 29.9K
$438PKR 121.5K
-75.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.7PKR 18.5K
$225PKR 62.5K
-70.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,164PKR 322.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$512PKR 142.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sialkot
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$155PKR 43.0K
$175PKR 48.4K
-11.18%
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 Sialkot: August 29, 2026
Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $49.52 in Sialkot and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rawalpindi pays 13% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $83.0 vs $103 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 40% in total monthly costs ($359 vs $504 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 13% 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: $49.52 in Sialkot versus $204 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 $16.00 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 $359 per month in Sialkot versus $504 in Rawalpindi – a 40% 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 40% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.