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: $431 in Rawalpindi versus $370 in Sahiwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $665 in Rawalpindi versus $565 in Sahiwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $899 in Rawalpindi versus $761 in Sahiwal.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 16% more expensive than in 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

$1.73 PKR 481

3.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.27 PKR 3,959

$10.78 PKR 2,991

32.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 PKR 1,460

$4.20 PKR 1,164

25.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 PKR 445

$2.41 PKR 669

-33.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PKR 950

$3.69 PKR 1,024

-7.32%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 460

$1.73 PKR 481

-4.05%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.35 PKR 97.7

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.19 PKR 52.2

10.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.61 PKR 168

29.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.43 PKR 120

30.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.13 PKR 315

15.04%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.15 PKR 320

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 PKR 1,660

$5.89 PKR 1,635

1.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 906

$2.90 PKR 806

12.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 PKR 1,240

$4.63 PKR 1,286

-3.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.02 PKR 282

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.61 PKR 169

3.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.36 PKR 100

133.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.46 PKR 128

8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.33 PKR 90.9

12.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.51 PKR 142

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.47 PKR 131

-44.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.34 PKR 94.0

17.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.96 PKR 4,429

$1.11 PKR 308

1337.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 284

$0.54 PKR 150

88.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PKR 658

$1.12 PKR 311

111.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 533

$1.90 PKR 526

1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.6

$0.19 PKR 53.9

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 PKR 2,663

$7.00 PKR 1,943

37.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.74 PKR 207

14.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.52 PKR 144

-38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 PKR 858

$1.81 PKR 502

70.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 264

$0.94 PKR 262

1.06%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

-0.90%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

-1.34%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

41.15%

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

$3.96 PKR 1,100

$5.34 PKR 1,482

-25.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.35 PKR 4,537

$17.57 PKR 4,876

-6.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.86 PKR 2,736

$12.55 PKR 3,483

-21.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 PKR 2,060

$5.91 PKR 1,639

25.55%

Cinema Ticket

$3.57 PKR 990

$3.62 PKR 1,005

-1.38%

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

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

$17.38 PKR 4,824

135.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$963 PKR 267.2K

$1,216 PKR 337.4K

-20.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.74 PKR 3,258

$14.30 PKR 3,968

-17.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.96 PKR 5,263

$12.31 PKR 3,417

54.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$72.7 PKR 20.2K

23.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.12 PKR 8,081

$28.09 PKR 7,795

3.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.9K

$74.3 PKR 20.6K

79.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

$50.9 PKR 14.1K

30.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.8K

$167 PKR 46.2K

100.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$108 PKR 30.0K

60.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

$874 PKR 242.6K

29.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.6K

$531 PKR 147.3K

-3.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sahiwal: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $74.3 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 $94.0 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

Rawalpindi vs Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Sahiwal differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($431 vs $370 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $646 in Rawalpindi and $555 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 $74.3 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 $431 per month in Rawalpindi versus $370 in Sahiwal – a 16% 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 16% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.