Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Sahiwal Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Sahiwal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Rawalpindi versus $372 in Sahiwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $666 in Rawalpindi versus $566 in Sahiwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $909 in Rawalpindi versus $759 in Sahiwal.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 14% more expensive than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Sahiwal 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.74 PKR 483

2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.12 PKR 3,926

$10.52 PKR 2,924

34.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 PKR 1,495

$4.18 PKR 1,161

28.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 PKR 435

$2.41 PKR 670

-34.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 975

$3.68 PKR 1,022

-4.62%

Cappuccino

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.72 PKR 479

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

$0.34 PKR 94.7

$0.33 PKR 91.6

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.19 PKR 52.5

21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.65 PKR 180

21.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.43 PKR 120

30.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 346

$1.13 PKR 313

9.73%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.21 PKR 337

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 PKR 1,654

$5.98 PKR 1,662

-0.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 PKR 939

$3.00 PKR 835

12.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$4.56 PKR 1,267

-2.63%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.06 PKR 295

-11.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 179

$0.61 PKR 169

4.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.34 PKR 94.2

152.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.43 PKR 118

18.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.32 PKR 90.1

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.52 PKR 145

-5.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.2

$0.47 PKR 131

-48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.46 PKR 4,576

$0.87 PKR 241

1791.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.52 PKR 144

100.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 PKR 635

$1.11 PKR 309

105.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.91 PKR 532

4.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.86

$0.20 PKR 55.8

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.93 PKR 2,762

$7.26 PKR 2,020

36.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.68 PKR 188

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 PKR 99.0

$0.49 PKR 137

-26.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 PKR 821

$1.82 PKR 505

62.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.96 PKR 266

2.08%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

-0.39%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

-0.55%

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

$100 PKR 27.9K

$70.8 PKR 19.7K

41.74%

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

$3.97 PKR 1,104

$5.59 PKR 1,554

-28.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.55 PKR 4,601

$17.52 PKR 4,872

-5.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.13 PKR 2,816

$12.60 PKR 3,502

-19.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.47 PKR 2,076

$6.06 PKR 1,684

23.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.63 PKR 1,010

$3.44 PKR 957

5.52%

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

$39.82 PKR 11.1K

$17.67 PKR 4,912

125.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$969 PKR 269.3K

$1,234 PKR 343.2K

-21.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.62 PKR 3,229

$14.35 PKR 3,989

-19.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 PKR 5,282

$12.19 PKR 3,389

55.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 PKR 24.8K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

21.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.78 PKR 8,001

$28.15 PKR 7,826

2.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

76.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.3 PKR 18.2K

$52.8 PKR 14.7K

23.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 91.0K

$167 PKR 46.5K

95.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$104 PKR 29.0K

65.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,142 PKR 317.4K

$904 PKR 251.3K

26.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$505 PKR 140.3K

$428 PKR 119.1K

17.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 PKR 47.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

19.88

1.46%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 13, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $75.1 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 $93.0 vs $87.0 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

Rawalpindi vs Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Sahiwal differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $372 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $634 in Rawalpindi and $558 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $75.1 in Sahiwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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.

All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Rawalpindi versus $372 in Sahiwal – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 14% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.