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: $346 in Wah versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $540 in Wah versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $735 in Wah versus $905 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Wah costs roughly 21% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Wah 74% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.82 PKR 505

-4.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,994

$13.95 PKR 3,873

-22.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.48 PKR 965

$5.40 PKR 1,499

-35.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 772

$1.56 PKR 433

78.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$3.53 PKR 980

33.71%

Cappuccino

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.71 PKR 474

-25.73%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.9

$0.31 PKR 87.1

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.23 PKR 63.9

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 208

$0.86 PKR 239

-12.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.53 PKR 146

13.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 349

$1.30 PKR 361

-3.08%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.12 PKR 312

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,711

$6.03 PKR 1,674

2.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 740

$3.43 PKR 953

-22.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.21 PKR 891

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-27.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 284

$1.01 PKR 280

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.69 PKR 191

-14.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.85 PKR 236

-25.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.47 PKR 129

19.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.34 PKR 94.1

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.52 PKR 145

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.24 PKR 66.0

145.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.98 PKR 271

$16.04 PKR 4,454

-93.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PKR 200

$0.99 PKR 274

-27.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 566

$2.40 PKR 666

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 507

$1.91 PKR 531

-4.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.8

$0.20 PKR 56.1

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,994

$9.52 PKR 2,645

-24.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 300

$0.86 PKR 240

25.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.32 PKR 89.7

37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 485

$2.92 PKR 811

-40.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.97 PKR 270

1.03%

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

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

26.14%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-5.42%

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

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-44.61%

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

$3.83 PKR 1,063

$4.04 PKR 1,121

-5.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.99 PKR 3,607

$16.63 PKR 4,618

-21.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,456

$9.97 PKR 2,768

24.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,624

$7.43 PKR 2,062

-21.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 PKR 994

$3.47 PKR 964

3.17%

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

$27.98 PKR 7,769

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

-30.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,141 PKR 316.8K

$948 PKR 263.3K

20.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,491

$11.90 PKR 3,304

35.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.93 PKR 6,090

$18.45 PKR 5,124

18.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

-31.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.77 PKR 7,154

$29.00 PKR 8,052

-11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-43.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

-19.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$330 PKR 91.6K

-49.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$171 PKR 47.4K

-38.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 PKR 270.5K

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

-17.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$417 PKR 115.8K

$518 PKR 143.8K

-19.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.3 in Wah and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Wah vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $88.0 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 26% in total monthly costs ($346 vs $437 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $519 in Wah and $656 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: $75.3 in Wah versus $133 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 $11.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $346 per month in Wah versus $437 in Rawalpindi – a 26% 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 26% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.