😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi versus $374 in Sahiwal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Rawalpindi versus $564 in Sahiwal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $917 in Rawalpindi versus $753 in Sahiwal.
😐Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 13% more expensive than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi68% lower, Sahiwal72% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75PKR 487
$1.74PKR 484
0.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.30PKR 3,985
$10.63PKR 2,962
34.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38PKR 1,501
$4.15PKR 1,158
29.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.63PKR 454
$2.55PKR 710
-36.08%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53PKR 985
$3.64PKR 1,016
-3.02%
Cappuccino
$1.71PKR 477
$1.75PKR 487
-2.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.8
$0.33PKR 91.2
-6.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.3
$0.17PKR 46.89
23.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85PKR 238
$0.64PKR 179
32.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52PKR 144
$0.44PKR 123
18.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29PKR 360
$1.17PKR 327
10.26%
Eggs
$1.18PKR 329
$1.17PKR 326
0.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18PKR 1,724
$5.89PKR 1,643
4.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.44PKR 959
$2.92PKR 814
17.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.46PKR 1,244
$4.43PKR 1,235
0.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.00PKR 280
$1.05PKR 293
-4.76%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 177
$0.60PKR 169
6.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86PKR 239
$0.33PKR 93.2
160.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$0.46PKR 128
4.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.36PKR 99.2
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$0.48PKR 133
2.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 66.3
$0.45PKR 124
-46.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.37PKR 102
-2.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$15.92PKR 4,437
$0.70PKR 196
2174.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99PKR 277
$0.51PKR 141
94.12%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30PKR 643
$1.06PKR 297
116.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94PKR 541
$1.99PKR 554
-2.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.8
$0.16PKR 43.22
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.95PKR 2,774
$6.97PKR 1,944
42.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84PKR 234
$0.73PKR 203
15.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 98.2
$0.50PKR 139
-30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07PKR 856
$1.80PKR 502
70.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 271
$0.89PKR 249
8.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
-1.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.5M
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
0.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.7K
$70.0PKR 19.5K
46.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95PKR 1,101
$5.48PKR 1,528
-27.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.31PKR 4,545
$17.48PKR 4,872
-6.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.99PKR 2,784
$12.16PKR 3,389
-17.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52PKR 2,097
$5.85PKR 1,631
28.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64PKR 1,015
$3.58PKR 998
1.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.91PKR 11.1K
$17.83PKR 4,970
123.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$953PKR 265.7K
$1,243PKR 346.6K
-23.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.64PKR 3,246
$14.12PKR 3,936
-17.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.40PKR 5,131
$12.28PKR 3,424
49.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8PKR 24.8K
$74.0PKR 20.6K
20.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.47PKR 7,937
$28.15PKR 7,848
1.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$130PKR 36.2K
$73.9PKR 20.6K
75.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.5PKR 18.0K
$51.5PKR 14.3K
25.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327PKR 91.2K
$168PKR 46.8K
94.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174PKR 48.5K
$106PKR 29.4K
64.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,159PKR 323.0K
$743PKR 207.1K
55.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$522PKR 145.4K
$560PKR 156.2K
-6.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Sahiwal
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$174PKR 48.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.17
19.88
1.46%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Sahiwal: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $73.9 in Sahiwal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $11.00 in Sahiwal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $86.0 per month, with Sahiwal cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Rawalpindi vs Sahiwal: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Rawalpindi and Sahiwal?
Rawalpindi and Sahiwal differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $374 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rawalpindi compared to Sahiwal?
You'd need roughly $635 in Rawalpindi 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Rawalpindi and Sahiwal?
Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $73.9 in Sahiwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sahiwal – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rawalpindi or Sahiwal?
All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Rawalpindi versus $374 in Sahiwal – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,000 go in Rawalpindi vs Sahiwal?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Rawalpindi and Sahiwal?
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.
Where should expats move: Rawalpindi or Sahiwal?
Expats usually find Sahiwal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rawalpindi vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado