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: $476 in Karachi versus $508 in Sahiwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $739 in Sahiwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $970 in Sahiwal.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 6% less than in Sahiwal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Sahiwal 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.58 PKR 716

-14.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,784

$14.50 PKR 4,015

-5.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.43 PKR 1,503

2.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 594

$3.70 PKR 1,024

-41.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,038

$5.36 PKR 1,486

37.31%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$2.66 PKR 737

-16.17%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.2

$0.43 PKR 118

-16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.24 PKR 66.3

8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.88 PKR 243

-3.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.67 PKR 184

-17.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.21 PKR 334

-0.83%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.21 PKR 334

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$6.40 PKR 1,773

-2.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$2.56 PKR 710

21.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,760

$4.96 PKR 1,375

28.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.17 PKR 324

8.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.64 PKR 177

-15.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$0.84 PKR 232

23.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.67 PKR 186

-8.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.30 PKR 84.1

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.32 PKR 89.6

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.50 PKR 139

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.34 PKR 93.4

26.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.06 PKR 294

20.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$0.65 PKR 180

112.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$1.73 PKR 480

39.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.23 PKR 619

-18.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.17 PKR 45.74

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$9.89 PKR 2,741

-18.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.94 PKR 259

-21.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.68 PKR 190

8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$1.82 PKR 504

15.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.31 PKR 364

0.76%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

2.05%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$26.4K PKR 7.3M

2.97%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$130 PKR 36.0K

-16.30%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$5.29 PKR 1,466

10.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$16.48 PKR 4,565

-21.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,926

$15.78 PKR 4,370

35.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,213

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.23 PKR 1,173

0.47%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$46.55 PKR 12.9K

7.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

-20.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$17.31 PKR 4,795

-9.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,217

$27.13 PKR 7,513

-17.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$75.7 PKR 21.0K

-9.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$31.91 PKR 8,839

21.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$140 PKR 38.7K

-20.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$67.0 PKR 18.6K

8.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$241 PKR 66.8K

35.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$168 PKR 46.5K

7.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$800 PKR 221.5K

27.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.1K

$512 PKR 141.8K

-5.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

14.28

-9.80%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $140 in Sahiwal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Sahiwal. Groceries flip the comparison at $102 vs $96.0, with Sahiwal cheaper for home cooking.

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 7% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $508 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $761 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: $111 in Karachi versus $140 in Sahiwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $476 per month in Karachi versus $508 in Sahiwal – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 22% less than in Sahiwal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Sahiwal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.