For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $1,284 in Saudi Arabia, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Pakistan and in Saudi Arabia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Saudi Arabia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Pakistan versus $1,284 in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan $483
Saudi Arabia $1,284
Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Pakistan versus $1,916 in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan $736
Saudi Arabia $1,916
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Pakistan versus $2,549 in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan $988
Saudi Arabia $2,549
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Saudi Arabia: monthly costs span $674 to $1,738, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Saudi Arabia.
🌍
Living in Pakistan costs about 62% less than in Saudi Arabia on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 65% lower, Saudi Arabia 6% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11PKR 582
$6.74SAR 25.28
-68.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.97PKR 3,863
$40.36SAR 151
-65.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.50PKR 1,522
$8.14SAR 30.53
-32.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22PKR 615
$1.99SAR 7.46
11.56%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31PKR 1,192
$2.12SAR 7.95
103.30%
Cappuccino
$1.97PKR 545
$3.78SAR 14.19
-47.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 105
$0.75SAR 2.83
-49.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.6
$0.27SAR 1.02
-14.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87PKR 239
$1.70SAR 6.39
-48.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60PKR 165
$1.11SAR 4.17
-45.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 334
$2.21SAR 8.30
-45.25%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 333
$2.67SAR 10.01
-54.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.42PKR 1,499
$7.68SAR 28.79
-29.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83PKR 782
$7.86SAR 29.48
-63.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.06PKR 1,399
$13.44SAR 50.4
-62.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20PKR 331
$2.16SAR 8.10
-44.44%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 176
$1.79SAR 6.70
-64.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87PKR 241
$1.73SAR 6.48
-49.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54PKR 148
$1.69SAR 6.34
-68.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 91.7
$1.31SAR 4.91
-74.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$1.33SAR 4.99
-70.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37PKR 104
$1.27SAR 4.76
-70.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41PKR 113
$0.62SAR 2.32
-33.87%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.08PKR 574
$4.07SAR 15.25
-48.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07PKR 296
$1.64SAR 6.16
-34.76%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36PKR 652
$2.18SAR 8.17
8.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 593
$7.32SAR 27.44
-70.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 55.0
$1.10SAR 4.12
-81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01PKR 2,766
$38.07SAR 143
-73.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88PKR 243
$2.74SAR 10.26
-67.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56PKR 155
$2.70SAR 10.12
-79.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.22PKR 613
$13.49SAR 50.6
-83.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29PKR 357
$0.60SAR 2.26
115.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$30.4KSAR 114.2K
-41.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
$21.5KSAR 80.5K
13.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110PKR 30.5K
$97.9SAR 367
12.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41PKR 1,494
$31.85SAR 119
-83.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.79PKR 4,365
$67.1SAR 252
-76.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50PKR 5,115
$79.8SAR 300
-76.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.09PKR 3,065
$39.07SAR 147
-71.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.32PKR 1,194
$13.92SAR 52.2
-68.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.4PKR 15.6K
$458SAR 1,718
-87.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,511PKR 417.9K
$8,896SAR 33.4K
-83.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.56PKR 4,855
$48.43SAR 182
-63.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.58PKR 6,518
$56.7SAR 213
-58.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7PKR 21.2K
$89.5SAR 336
-14.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.08PKR 9,698
$86.3SAR 324
-59.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$150PKR 41.5K
$641SAR 2,404
-76.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$87.4PKR 24.2K
$460SAR 1,726
-81.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320PKR 88.6K
$1,008SAR 3,781
-68.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190PKR 52.5K
$699SAR 2,623
-72.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$970PKR 268.3K
$2,013SAR 7,551
-51.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$520PKR 143.9K
$1,252SAR 4,696
-58.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$192PKR 53.1K
$1,864SAR 6,992
-89.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.1
5.4
161.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026
Last update for Saudi Arabia: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$131 27.2%
Saudi Arabia
$197 15.3% ↑ 49.7%$65
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$94 19.5%
Saudi Arabia
$206 16.1% ↑ 119%$112
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$87 18.1%
Saudi Arabia
$460 35.8% ↑ 427%$373
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$69 14.3%
Saudi Arabia
$126 9.9% ↑ 83.8%$58
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$59 12.3%
Saudi Arabia
$128 10% ↑ 115%$68
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$27 5.6%
Saudi Arabia
$108 8.4% ↑ 297%$81
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$14 3%
Saudi Arabia
$59 4.6% ↑ 305%$44
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$137 13.9%
Saudi Arabia
$229 9% ↑ 67%$92
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$228 23%
Saudi Arabia
$505 19.8% ↑ 122%$278
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$190 19.2%
Saudi Arabia
$699 27.5% ↑ 268%$509
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$153 15.5%
Saudi Arabia
$281 11% ↑ 83.7%$128
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$186 18.9%
Saudi Arabia
$461 18.1% ↑ 147%$274
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$65 6.6%
Saudi Arabia
$254 10% ↑ 289%$189
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$29 3%
Saudi Arabia
$120 4.7% ↑ 307%$90
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $137 in Pakistan, $556 in Saudi Arabia. Capital cities: $261 in Islamabad vs $1,149 in Riyadh.
💰National salary averages: $185 in Pakistan, $1,949 in Saudi Arabia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 306% higher in Saudi Arabia.
⭐Dining out costs 208% more in Saudi Arabia.
⭐Public transport is 280% more expensive in Saudi Arabia.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times higher in Saudi Arabia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saudi Arabia.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Pakistan vs Saudi Arabia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia?
At $483 per month in Pakistan and $1,284 in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan comes out about 62% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $556 in Saudi Arabia and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Pakistan or in Saudi Arabia?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Saudi Arabia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to Saudi Arabia?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.