Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Sahiwal Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Sahiwal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $518 in Lahore versus $508 in Sahiwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $782 in Lahore versus $739 in Sahiwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,046 in Lahore versus $970 in Sahiwal.

Living in Lahore is roughly 2% more expensive than in Sahiwal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 62% lower, Sahiwal 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 PKR 705

$2.58 PKR 716

-1.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.58 PKR 4,038

$14.50 PKR 4,015

0.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 PKR 1,551

$5.43 PKR 1,503

3.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 PKR 1,006

$3.70 PKR 1,024

-1.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$5.36 PKR 1,486

2.80%

Cappuccino

$2.53 PKR 702

$2.66 PKR 737

-4.89%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.43 PKR 118

-6.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.24 PKR 66.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.88 PKR 243

5.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.67 PKR 184

5.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.21 PKR 334

-3.31%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.21 PKR 334

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,755

$6.40 PKR 1,773

-0.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.61 PKR 722

$2.56 PKR 710

1.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.81 PKR 1,332

$4.96 PKR 1,375

-3.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.17 PKR 324

4.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.64 PKR 177

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.84 PKR 232

8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.67 PKR 186

-1.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.30 PKR 84.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.32 PKR 89.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 129

$0.50 PKR 139

-8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.34 PKR 93.4

8.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.06 PKR 294

2.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.65 PKR 180

-7.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

$1.73 PKR 480

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 584

$2.23 PKR 619

-5.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.17 PKR 45.74

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.43 PKR 1,503

$9.89 PKR 2,741

-45.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 246

$0.94 PKR 259

-5.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.68 PKR 190

1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 PKR 512

$1.82 PKR 504

1.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.31 PKR 364

0.76%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

1.68%

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

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

$26.4K PKR 7.3M

1.45%

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

$128 PKR 35.5K

$130 PKR 36.0K

-1.46%

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

$5.32 PKR 1,474

$5.29 PKR 1,466

0.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.62 PKR 4,602

$16.48 PKR 4,565

0.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.06 PKR 5,832

$15.78 PKR 4,370

33.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.76 PKR 2,981

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 PKR 1,172

$4.23 PKR 1,173

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

$45.14 PKR 12.5K

$46.55 PKR 12.9K

-3.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,988 PKR 550.7K

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

1.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,793

$17.31 PKR 4,795

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.44 PKR 7,600

$27.13 PKR 7,513

1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 PKR 21.2K

$75.7 PKR 21.0K

1.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.91 PKR 8,839

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 PKR 45.0K

$140 PKR 38.7K

16.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.4 PKR 23.1K

$67.0 PKR 18.6K

24.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 PKR 94.4K

$241 PKR 66.8K

41.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 PKR 56.1K

$168 PKR 46.5K

20.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 PKR 224.3K

$800 PKR 221.5K

1.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.4K

$512 PKR 141.8K

16.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 PKR 53.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

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

Last update for Lahore: September 15, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Lahore and $140 in Sahiwal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $14.00 in Sahiwal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $96.0 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

Lahore vs Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Sahiwal differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($518 vs $508 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $777 in Lahore 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: $162 in Lahore versus $140 in Sahiwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Sahiwal – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $15.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 2% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.