Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $347 in Wah versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $528 in Wah versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $709 in Wah versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Wah costs roughly 19% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Wah 74% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.78 PKR 496

1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.44 PKR 2,906

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-26.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 PKR 976

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-33.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 PKR 794

$1.54 PKR 429

85.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 PKR 1,330

$3.40 PKR 947

40.59%

Cappuccino

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.73 PKR 481

-26.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.32 PKR 88.9

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.2

$0.23 PKR 64.2

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.79 PKR 219

-5.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.57 PKR 158

5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.23 PKR 343

2.44%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 318

$1.12 PKR 311

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.09 PKR 1,693

0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.55 PKR 710

$3.39 PKR 944

-24.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.16 PKR 879

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-30.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 283

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.67 PKR 186

-10.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.92 PKR 257

-32.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.47 PKR 132

10.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.33 PKR 93.2

12.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.52 PKR 144

5.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.26 PKR 72.7

138.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.37 PKR 102

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 263

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-94.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 203

$1.04 PKR 288

-29.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.41 PKR 669

-17.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 PKR 521

$1.90 PKR 528

-1.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.82

$0.18 PKR 49.36

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.11 PKR 1,978

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-28.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.91 PKR 253

15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.35 PKR 97.5

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.97 PKR 826

-39.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.96 PKR 267

-2.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

23.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-5.79%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$57.8 PKR 16.1K

$100 PKR 28.0K

-42.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.78 PKR 1,052

$3.99 PKR 1,111

-5.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.03 PKR 3,624

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-21.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.61 PKR 3,508

$10.14 PKR 2,821

24.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,643

$7.67 PKR 2,135

-23.08%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,001

$3.60 PKR 1,003

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$28.34 PKR 7,883

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-28.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,133 PKR 315.3K

$962 PKR 267.6K

17.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.04 PKR 4,461

$11.80 PKR 3,282

35.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.88 PKR 6,087

$18.84 PKR 5,242

16.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-31.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.53 PKR 7,101

$28.38 PKR 7,896

-10.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-42.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.7 PKR 14.7K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

-20.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.1K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-48.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-39.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,113 PKR 309.5K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-5.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$583 PKR 162.2K

$516 PKR 143.6K

12.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-10.76%

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

Last update for Wah: June 2, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.2 in Wah and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Wah vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $95.0 per month, with Wah 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

Wah vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wah and Rawalpindi differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($347 vs $429 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $520 in Wah and $644 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.2 in Wah versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Wah – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $347 per month in Wah versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Wah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Wah and Rawalpindi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Wah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.