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: $482 in Karachi versus $372 in Sahiwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $737 in Karachi versus $566 in Sahiwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $992 in Karachi versus $759 in Sahiwal.

Living in Karachi is roughly 29% more expensive than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.74 PKR 483

19.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,458

$10.52 PKR 2,924

18.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 PKR 1,131

$4.18 PKR 1,161

-2.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 557

$2.41 PKR 670

-17.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 PKR 1,506

$3.68 PKR 1,022

47.28%

Cappuccino

$1.88 PKR 524

$1.72 PKR 479

9.30%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.33 PKR 91.6

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.19 PKR 52.5

21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 223

$0.65 PKR 180

23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.43 PKR 120

25.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.13 PKR 313

-0.88%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.21 PKR 337

-2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.61 PKR 1,838

$5.98 PKR 1,662

10.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 886

$3.00 PKR 835

6.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 PKR 1,408

$4.56 PKR 1,267

11.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.06 PKR 295

-0.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.61 PKR 169

-8.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.34 PKR 94.2

161.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.43 PKR 118

32.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.7

$0.32 PKR 90.1

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.52 PKR 145

-9.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.47 PKR 131

-25.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.36 PKR 101

13.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.27 PKR 354

$0.87 PKR 241

45.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 366

$0.52 PKR 144

153.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

$1.11 PKR 309

83.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 586

$1.91 PKR 532

10.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.20 PKR 55.8

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.24 PKR 1,734

$7.26 PKR 2,020

-14.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.68 PKR 188

7.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.49 PKR 137

24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.82 PKR 505

-3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.96 PKR 266

-8.33%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

-6.26%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

5.52%

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

$133 PKR 36.9K

$70.8 PKR 19.7K

87.61%

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

$5.11 PKR 1,419

$5.59 PKR 1,554

-8.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.67 PKR 3,801

$17.52 PKR 4,872

-21.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.52 PKR 4,315

$12.60 PKR 3,502

23.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 PKR 4,018

$6.06 PKR 1,684

138.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,172

$3.44 PKR 957

22.38%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$17.67 PKR 4,912

228.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,384 PKR 384.8K

$1,234 PKR 343.2K

12.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.48 PKR 4,859

$14.35 PKR 3,989

21.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.97 PKR 6,943

$12.19 PKR 3,389

104.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

-12.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.1K

$28.15 PKR 7,826

28.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 PKR 32.6K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

56.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.8 PKR 20.5K

$52.8 PKR 14.7K

39.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 PKR 86.7K

$167 PKR 46.5K

86.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.5K

$104 PKR 29.0K

74.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$929 PKR 258.2K

$904 PKR 251.3K

2.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$437 PKR 121.4K

$428 PKR 119.1K

1.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.9K

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Karachi and $75.1 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 $87.0 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 29% in total monthly costs ($482 vs $372 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $723 in Karachi and $558 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: $117 in Karachi versus $75.1 in Sahiwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $482 per month in Karachi versus $372 in Sahiwal – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sahiwal runs roughly 16% 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 29% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.