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: $423 in Wah versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $635 in Wah versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $848 in Wah versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Wah costs roughly 16% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Wah 69% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.85 PKR 512

$2.12 PKR 588

-12.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PKR 3,024

$15.93 PKR 4,416

-31.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$5.89 PKR 1,633

-9.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 PKR 681

$1.81 PKR 502

35.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 PKR 592

$3.52 PKR 976

-39.20%

Cappuccino

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.94 PKR 538

-34.02%

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

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.44 PKR 122

-31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.3

$0.25 PKR 69.4

4.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 217

$0.90 PKR 250

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.55 PKR 152

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.23 PKR 342

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.11 PKR 307

7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 PKR 2,367

$6.16 PKR 1,708

38.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 712

$3.57 PKR 988

-28.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.96 PKR 1,097

$5.22 PKR 1,446

-24.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.14 PKR 316

-5.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.86 PKR 237

-23.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$1.23 PKR 340

-56.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.57 PKR 158

-10.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.46 PKR 127

15.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.33 PKR 92.1

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.40 PKR 111

7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.53 PKR 146

$16.28 PKR 4,515

-96.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 PKR 146

$1.20 PKR 332

-55.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 193

$2.46 PKR 681

-71.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 PKR 651

$1.93 PKR 535

21.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.4

$0.16 PKR 43.62

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.14 PKR 3,088

$10.12 PKR 2,807

10.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 PKR 293

$0.91 PKR 253

16.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 PKR 305

$0.38 PKR 104

189.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$3.16 PKR 876

-9.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.13 PKR 312

-1.77%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

26.65%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-8.10%

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

$67.2 PKR 18.6K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-41.56%

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

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.49 PKR 1,522

0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.31 PKR 3,968

$18.67 PKR 5,175

-23.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.69 PKR 3,795

$12.12 PKR 3,361

12.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,872

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 PKR 1,980

$4.28 PKR 1,187

66.82%

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

$26.72 PKR 7,408

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

-44.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,048 PKR 567.9K

$844 PKR 234.0K

142.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.69 PKR 5,182

$20.85 PKR 5,780

-10.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.49 PKR 7,345

$28.03 PKR 7,771

-5.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.2 PKR 15.0K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

-40.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.16 PKR 8,084

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

-19.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$204 PKR 56.7K

-42.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

-8.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.7K

$438 PKR 121.5K

-39.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 PKR 38.8K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-37.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$911 PKR 252.6K

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

-21.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$554 PKR 153.6K

$512 PKR 142.1K

8.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

22.81

-48.14%

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

Last update for Wah: September 1, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Wah and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Wah vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $103 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 19% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $504 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $635 in Wah and $756 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: $118 in Wah versus $204 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Wah versus $504 in Rawalpindi – a 19% 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 19% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.