Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sahiwal Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Sahiwal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Islamabad vs $370 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Islamabad vs $565 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Islamabad vs $761 in Sahiwal, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 44% more than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Sahiwal are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Sahiwal 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 803

$1.73 PKR 481

67.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.11 PKR 3,916

$10.78 PKR 2,991

30.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,508

$4.20 PKR 1,164

29.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.41 PKR 669

-26.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,051

$3.69 PKR 1,024

2.71%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.73 PKR 481

14.45%

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

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 97.8

11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.19 PKR 52.2

15.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.61 PKR 168

67.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.43 PKR 120

44.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.13 PKR 315

7.96%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.15 PKR 320

6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 PKR 1,677

$5.89 PKR 1,635

2.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 936

$2.90 PKR 806

16.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,239

$4.63 PKR 1,286

-3.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 278

$1.02 PKR 282

-1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.61 PKR 169

37.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.36 PKR 100

158.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.46 PKR 128

23.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.33 PKR 90.9

24.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.51 PKR 142

13.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.47 PKR 131

-29.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.34 PKR 94.0

8.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.11 PKR 308

71.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.54 PKR 150

57.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$1.12 PKR 311

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 584

$1.90 PKR 526

10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.35

$0.19 PKR 53.9

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$7.00 PKR 1,943

2.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.74 PKR 207

13.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.52 PKR 144

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$1.81 PKR 502

58.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 257

$0.94 PKR 262

-1.06%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

19.34%

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

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

13.47%

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

$113 PKR 31.4K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

58.29%

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

$5.39 PKR 1,495

$5.34 PKR 1,482

0.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,165

$17.57 PKR 4,876

5.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.80 PKR 6,329

$12.55 PKR 3,484

81.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,671

$5.91 PKR 1,640

1.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.62 PKR 1,005

20.17%

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

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

$17.38 PKR 4,824

248.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

$1,216 PKR 337.4K

129.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.18 PKR 5,878

$14.30 PKR 3,968

48.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 PKR 7,807

$12.31 PKR 3,417

128.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

$72.7 PKR 20.2K

23.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

$28.09 PKR 7,795

42.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.8K

$74.3 PKR 20.6K

165.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$50.9 PKR 14.1K

115.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.4K

$167 PKR 46.2K

208.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.1K

$108 PKR 30.0K

177.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

$874 PKR 242.6K

79.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.5K

$531 PKR 147.3K

21.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

19.88

1.61%

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

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Islamabad versus $74.3 in Sahiwal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $11.00 in Sahiwal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99.0 vs $86.0 – making Sahiwal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Islamabad vs Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $798 per month in Islamabad and $555 in Sahiwal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sahiwal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $11.00 in Sahiwal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $532 in Islamabad and $370 in Sahiwal, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sahiwal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sahiwal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.