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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $604 per month in Islamabad vs $497 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A couple spends around $939 per month in Islamabad vs $722 in Sahiwal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,275 per month in Islamabad vs $947 in Sahiwal, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 21% more than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Sahiwal are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 56% lower, Sahiwal 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 PKR 968

$2.56 PKR 709

36.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.94 PKR 6,356

$14.38 PKR 3,985

59.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,535

$5.53 PKR 1,531

0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 PKR 1,017

$3.54 PKR 981

3.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 PKR 1,854

$5.38 PKR 1,492

24.35%

Cappuccino

$2.57 PKR 711

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

$0.35 PKR 97.3

$0.42 PKR 118

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.26 PKR 72.3

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.91 PKR 251

2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 218

$0.66 PKR 183

19.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 344

$1.21 PKR 336

2.48%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 350

$1.23 PKR 341

3.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,712

$6.47 PKR 1,794

-4.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 PKR 879

$2.45 PKR 679

29.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$4.93 PKR 1,365

11.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.21 PKR 335

6.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.66 PKR 184

30.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.83 PKR 229

21.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 134

$0.64 PKR 178

-23.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.4

$0.30 PKR 83.5

-13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.2

$0.32 PKR 89.8

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.28 PKR 76.6

$0.45 PKR 126

-37.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.34 PKR 92.9

17.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.10 PKR 305

80.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 PKR 330

$0.61 PKR 169

95.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 PKR 742

$1.72 PKR 477

55.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 PKR 665

$2.10 PKR 583

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.4

$0.17 PKR 47.60

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.97 PKR 6,086

$9.75 PKR 2,701

125.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$0.93 PKR 257

38.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.70 PKR 193

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 PKR 435

$1.77 PKR 491

-11.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PKR 359

$1.33 PKR 369

-2.26%

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

$53.1K PKR 14.7M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

199.06%

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

$24.4K PKR 6.8M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-5.95%

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

$102 PKR 28.4K

$124 PKR 34.4K

-17.50%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,616

$5.20 PKR 1,441

12.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.65 PKR 4,336

$16.26 PKR 4,504

-3.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.66 PKR 7,662

$15.02 PKR 4,161

84.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.86 PKR 2,456

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 PKR 1,194

$4.41 PKR 1,221

-2.27%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

$44.39 PKR 12.3K

68.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,069 PKR 1.4M

$2,010 PKR 556.9K

152.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.79 PKR 6,868

$16.73 PKR 4,634

48.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.54 PKR 9,569

$24.95 PKR 6,913

38.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 PKR 26.7K

$73.2 PKR 20.3K

31.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.98 PKR 11.1K

$29.87 PKR 8,274

33.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 PKR 74.7K

$127 PKR 35.1K

112.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 PKR 38.7K

$77.4 PKR 21.4K

80.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$598 PKR 165.6K

$252 PKR 69.9K

136.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 PKR 77.9K

$151 PKR 41.8K

86.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,685 PKR 466.9K

$909 PKR 251.9K

85.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 PKR 226.3K

$511 PKR 141.5K

59.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 PKR 103.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

14.22

-8.02%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 8, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Islamabad versus $127 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Sahiwal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $104 vs $96.0 – 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 21%, 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 $905 per month in Islamabad and $745 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 8% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad and $14.00 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 $604 in Islamabad and $497 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.