Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Sahiwal

For one person, living is cheaper in Sahiwal: $494 a month against $1,656 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,656
/mo nomad
Sahiwal
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$494
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Sahiwal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Buenos Aires and in Sahiwal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,656 in Buenos Aires versus $494 in Sahiwal.

  • Buenos Aires $1,656
  • Sahiwal $494

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,697 in Buenos Aires versus $734 in Sahiwal.

  • Buenos Aires $2,697
  • Sahiwal $734

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Buenos Aires versus $974 in Sahiwal.

  • Buenos Aires $3,737
  • Sahiwal $974

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 235% more expensive than in Sahiwal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buenos Aires is 23% above, Sahiwal is 63% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.09 ARS 29.0K
$2.49 PKR 690
666.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 ARS 99.9K
$14.57 PKR 4,033
351.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 ARS 20.0K
$5.65 PKR 1,564
133.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.69 PKR 1,021
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.30 PKR 1,467
-
Cappuccino
$3.85 ARS 5,841
$2.66 PKR 735
44.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ARS 3,020
$0.39 PKR 107
410.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ARS 2,430
$0.25 PKR 69.6
540.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 ARS 5,959
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 ARS 7,003
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 ARS 2,272
$0.96 PKR 265
56.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 ARS 3,837
$0.74 PKR 204
241.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 ARS 2,445
$1.24 PKR 344
29.84%
Eggs
$2.84 ARS 4,316
$1.19 PKR 331
138.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 ARS 15.6K
$6.24 PKR 1,728
65.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$2.58 PKR 714
287.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
$4.81 PKR 1,332
176.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 ARS 4,366
$1.19 PKR 330
142.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 ARS 3,334
$0.64 PKR 177
243.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 ARS 2,120
$0.85 PKR 236
64.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ARS 3,004
$0.70 PKR 194
182.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ARS 1,835
$0.32 PKR 89.7
278.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,910
$0.39 PKR 109
223.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 ARS 2,592
$0.51 PKR 140
235.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ARS 2,603
$0.35 PKR 96.5
391.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.06 PKR 293
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.64 PKR 178
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.64 PKR 455
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 ARS 6,505
$2.12 PKR 587
102.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 ARS 8,645
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ARS 3,288
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ARS 4,188
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,141
$0.17 PKR 47.92
341.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.27 ARS 41.4K
$8.92 PKR 2,468
205.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 ARS 2,375
$0.89 PKR 246
76.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ARS 1,558
$0.74 PKR 204
39.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ARS 12.0K
$1.78 PKR 494
343.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ARS 2,160
$1.35 PKR 373
5.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ARS 42.4M
$17.8K PKR 4.9M
56.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ARS 53.1M
$25.7K PKR 7.1M
36.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 ARS 296.2K
$128 PKR 35.4K
52.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16 ARS 38.2K
$5.56 PKR 1,539
352.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54 ARS 47.9K
$16.14 PKR 4,468
95.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 ARS 77.3K
$14.36 PKR 3,975
254.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73 ARS 25.4K
$6.88 PKR 1,905
143.17%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34 ARS 15.7K
$4.22 PKR 1,168
145.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 ARS 703.2K
$47.30 PKR 13.1K
879.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,793 ARS 13.3M
$2,015 PKR 557.8K
336.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ARS 181.8K
$17.87 PKR 4,946
570.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$95.5 ARS 144.9K
$28.27 PKR 7,825
237.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ARS 173.1K
$72.3 PKR 20.0K
57.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 ARS 211.4K
$33.25 PKR 9,204
318.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ARS 1.1M
$134 PKR 37.1K
463.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 ARS 788.8K
$70.4 PKR 19.5K
638.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 ARS 2.4M
$226 PKR 62.5K
604.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 ARS 1.8M
$138 PKR 38.1K
770.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,713 ARS 4.1M
$962 PKR 266.4K
181.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,901 ARS 2.9M
$533 PKR 147.4K
256.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Sahiwal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$938 ARS 1.4M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
14.05
307.47%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$520
Sahiwal
$70 86.5% $449
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$283
Sahiwal
$97 65.6% $186
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$282
Sahiwal
$71 74.7% $210
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$252
Sahiwal
$150 40.6% $102
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$211
Sahiwal
$68 67.6% $143
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$72
Sahiwal
$23 68.2% $49
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Sahiwal
$14 61.6% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Buenos Aires and $134 in Sahiwal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $66.0 in Buenos Aires vs $15.00 in Sahiwal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $97.0 per month, with Sahiwal cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇵🇰 Sahiwal
🕒 Local time
22:14 10:14 PM
06:14 6:14 AM
8 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
389,605
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Sahiwal 15,500 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Sahiwal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Buenos Aires vs Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Sahiwal?
Buenos Aires and Sahiwal differ by about 235% in total monthly costs ($1,656 vs $494 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Buenos Aires compared to Sahiwal?
You'd need roughly $2,484 in Buenos Aires and $741 in Sahiwal 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Sahiwal?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Buenos Aires versus $134 in Sahiwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buenos Aires and Sahiwal?
Childcare runs $463 in Buenos Aires versus $47.30 in Sahiwal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 191% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $494 in Sahiwal versus $1,656 in Buenos Aires, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sahiwal but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Sahiwal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Sahiwal?
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.
Is Buenos Aires or Sahiwal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Sahiwal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buenos Aires or Sahiwal?
Expats usually find Sahiwal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 235% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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