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 $374 in Sahiwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $732 in Karachi versus $564 in Sahiwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Karachi versus $753 in Sahiwal.

Living in Karachi is roughly 27% 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

$2.11 PKR 587

$1.74 PKR 484

21.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.18 PKR 3,396

$10.63 PKR 2,962

14.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 PKR 1,174

$4.15 PKR 1,158

1.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 536

$2.55 PKR 710

-24.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 PKR 1,496

$3.64 PKR 1,016

47.53%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.75 PKR 487

3.43%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.33 PKR 91.2

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.17 PKR 46.89

23.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 235

$0.64 PKR 179

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 152

$0.44 PKR 123

22.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.17 PKR 327

-3.42%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.17 PKR 326

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,772

$5.89 PKR 1,643

7.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 887

$2.92 PKR 814

8.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 PKR 1,429

$4.43 PKR 1,235

15.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.05 PKR 293

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.60 PKR 169

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.33 PKR 93.2

184.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.46 PKR 128

21.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.36 PKR 99.2

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.48 PKR 133

-2.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.45 PKR 124

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.37 PKR 102

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.41 PKR 392

$0.70 PKR 196

101.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PKR 363

$0.51 PKR 141

154.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 571

$1.06 PKR 297

93.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 PKR 608

$1.99 PKR 554

9.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.16 PKR 43.22

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.54 PKR 1,823

$6.97 PKR 1,944

-6.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.73 PKR 203

1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 174

$0.50 PKR 139

24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$1.80 PKR 502

-2.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.89 PKR 249

5.62%

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

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

-8.90%

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

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

8.57%

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

$137 PKR 38.3K

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

96.33%

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

$4.99 PKR 1,390

$5.48 PKR 1,528

-8.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,787

$17.48 PKR 4,872

-22.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.81 PKR 4,408

$12.16 PKR 3,389

30.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.27 PKR 3,978

$5.85 PKR 1,631

143.93%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,195

$3.58 PKR 998

19.83%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

$17.83 PKR 4,970

229.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 382.8K

$1,243 PKR 346.6K

10.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.85 PKR 4,976

$14.12 PKR 3,936

26.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.82 PKR 7,197

$12.28 PKR 3,424

110.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

-12.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

$28.15 PKR 7,848

29.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.6K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

63.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

45.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 PKR 89.5K

$168 PKR 46.8K

91.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$106 PKR 29.4K

72.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.3K

$743 PKR 207.1K

1.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.7K

$560 PKR 156.2K

-16.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 PKR 46.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $73.9 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 27% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $374 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $561 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: $120 in Karachi versus $73.9 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 $374 in Sahiwal – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sahiwal runs roughly 7% 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 27% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.