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 $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: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Sahiwal 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.74 PKR 484

0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.30 PKR 3,985

$10.63 PKR 2,962

34.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 PKR 1,501

$4.15 PKR 1,158

29.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 PKR 454

$2.55 PKR 710

-36.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 985

$3.64 PKR 1,016

-3.02%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 477

$1.75 PKR 487

-2.29%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.8

$0.33 PKR 91.2

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.17 PKR 46.89

23.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 238

$0.64 PKR 179

32.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.44 PKR 123

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 360

$1.17 PKR 327

10.26%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 329

$1.17 PKR 326

0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,724

$5.89 PKR 1,643

4.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 PKR 959

$2.92 PKR 814

17.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.46 PKR 1,244

$4.43 PKR 1,235

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 280

$1.05 PKR 293

-4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.60 PKR 169

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.33 PKR 93.2

160.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.46 PKR 128

4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.36 PKR 99.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.48 PKR 133

2.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.3

$0.45 PKR 124

-46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.37 PKR 102

-2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.92 PKR 4,437

$0.70 PKR 196

2174.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 277

$0.51 PKR 141

94.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 PKR 643

$1.06 PKR 297

116.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 541

$1.99 PKR 554

-2.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.8

$0.16 PKR 43.22

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 PKR 2,774

$6.97 PKR 1,944

42.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.73 PKR 203

15.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.50 PKR 139

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 PKR 856

$1.80 PKR 502

70.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.89 PKR 249

8.99%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

-1.98%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

0.65%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

46.91%

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

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$5.48 PKR 1,528

-27.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.31 PKR 4,545

$17.48 PKR 4,872

-6.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.99 PKR 2,784

$12.16 PKR 3,389

-17.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 PKR 2,097

$5.85 PKR 1,631

28.55%

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 PKR 1,015

$3.58 PKR 998

1.68%

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

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$17.83 PKR 4,970

123.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$953 PKR 265.7K

$1,243 PKR 346.6K

-23.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.64 PKR 3,246

$14.12 PKR 3,936

-17.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.40 PKR 5,131

$12.28 PKR 3,424

49.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

20.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.47 PKR 7,937

$28.15 PKR 7,848

1.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.2K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

75.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

25.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 91.2K

$168 PKR 46.8K

94.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 PKR 48.5K

$106 PKR 29.4K

64.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 PKR 323.0K

$743 PKR 207.1K

55.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 PKR 145.4K

$560 PKR 156.2K

-6.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 PKR 48.4K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 $374 in Sahiwal – a 13% 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 13% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.