Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Sahiwal Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Sahiwal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $370 in Sahiwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Karachi versus $565 in Sahiwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Karachi versus $761 in Sahiwal.

Living in Karachi is roughly 31% more expensive than in Sahiwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Sahiwal 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.73 PKR 481

19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,373

$10.78 PKR 2,991

12.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,111

$4.20 PKR 1,164

-4.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

$2.41 PKR 669

-20.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

$3.69 PKR 1,024

44.44%

Cappuccino

$1.85 PKR 513

$1.73 PKR 481

6.94%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.35 PKR 97.7

-5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.19 PKR 52.2

21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.61 PKR 168

37.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.43 PKR 120

34.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.13 PKR 315

-0.88%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.15 PKR 320

1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,744

$5.89 PKR 1,635

6.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 884

$2.90 PKR 806

9.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 PKR 1,396

$4.63 PKR 1,286

8.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.02 PKR 282

2.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.61 PKR 169

-3.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.36 PKR 100

155.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.46 PKR 128

17.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.33 PKR 90.9

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.51 PKR 142

-7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.47 PKR 131

-25.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.34 PKR 94.0

29.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.11 PKR 308

16.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.54 PKR 150

135.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

$1.12 PKR 311

83.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.90 PKR 526

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.19 PKR 53.9

89.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.42 PKR 1,782

$7.00 PKR 1,943

-8.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 207

-6.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.52 PKR 144

26.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.81 PKR 502

-4.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.94 PKR 262

-2.13%

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

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

-4.80%

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

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

6.64%

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

$133 PKR 36.8K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

85.81%

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

$4.86 PKR 1,349

$5.34 PKR 1,482

-8.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 PKR 3,779

$17.57 PKR 4,876

-22.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.31 PKR 4,250

$12.55 PKR 3,483

21.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 PKR 4,038

$5.91 PKR 1,639

146.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 PKR 1,142

$3.62 PKR 1,005

13.54%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$17.38 PKR 4,824

230.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

$1,216 PKR 337.4K

14.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 PKR 4,847

$14.30 PKR 3,968

22.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 PKR 7,188

$12.31 PKR 3,417

110.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

$72.7 PKR 20.2K

-12.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

$28.09 PKR 7,795

29.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.0K

$74.3 PKR 20.6K

60.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

$50.9 PKR 14.1K

48.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.2K

$167 PKR 46.2K

90.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 PKR 51.3K

$108 PKR 30.0K

70.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$912 PKR 253.2K

$874 PKR 242.6K

4.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 PKR 122.5K

$531 PKR 147.3K

-16.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

19.88

-10.46%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Karachi and $74.3 in Sahiwal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Sahiwal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $86.0 per month, with Sahiwal 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

Karachi vs Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Sahiwal differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $370 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $555 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $119 in Karachi versus $74.3 in Sahiwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $370 in Sahiwal – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sahiwal runs roughly 9% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sahiwal 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.

Expats usually find Sahiwal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.