Cost of Living Comparison Between Sahiwal and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sahiwal and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $374 per month in Sahiwal vs $543 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $564 per month in Sahiwal vs $851 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $753 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,159 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sahiwal is about 31% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sahiwal and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sahiwal 72% lower, Islamabad 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 485

$2.87 PKR 802

-39.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,966

$14.22 PKR 3,968

-25.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 PKR 1,159

$5.23 PKR 1,461

-20.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 PKR 711

$1.74 PKR 486

46.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 PKR 1,017

$3.82 PKR 1,067

-4.71%

Cappuccino

$1.75 PKR 488

$2.05 PKR 573

-14.63%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.3

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 46.95

$0.22 PKR 61.3

-22.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 179

$0.96 PKR 267

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.61 PKR 171

-27.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 327

$1.27 PKR 356

-7.87%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.21 PKR 337

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 PKR 1,645

$6.17 PKR 1,722

-4.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 PKR 815

$3.49 PKR 975

-16.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.43 PKR 1,236

$4.39 PKR 1,226

0.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 293

$1.03 PKR 289

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 169

$0.82 PKR 230

-26.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.3

$0.94 PKR 264

-64.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.56 PKR 155

-17.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.38 PKR 106

-5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.53 PKR 147

-9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 92.7

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.37 PKR 104

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.70 PKR 196

$1.96 PKR 548

-64.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.92 PKR 256

-44.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 297

$1.98 PKR 553

-46.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$2.07 PKR 578

-3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.27

$0.17 PKR 46.63

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.97 PKR 1,946

$6.98 PKR 1,948

-0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.92 PKR 256

-20.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.41 PKR 113

21.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 502

$2.75 PKR 768

-34.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 250

$0.98 PKR 274

-9.18%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-15.73%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-11.85%

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

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-37.23%

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

$5.48 PKR 1,530

$5.52 PKR 1,540

-0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.48 PKR 4,878

$18.67 PKR 5,210

-6.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.16 PKR 3,393

$22.27 PKR 6,215

-45.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,633

$5.85 PKR 1,632

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 PKR 999

$4.14 PKR 1,155

-13.53%

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

$17.83 PKR 4,977

$60.9 PKR 17.0K

-70.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,243 PKR 347.1K

$2,782 PKR 776.4K

-55.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.12 PKR 3,941

$21.34 PKR 5,955

-33.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.28 PKR 3,428

$28.33 PKR 7,909

-56.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

$90.1 PKR 25.2K

-17.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.15 PKR 7,858

$40.89 PKR 11.4K

-31.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$200 PKR 55.8K

-63.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.5 PKR 14.4K

$111 PKR 31.1K

-53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.9K

$513 PKR 143.2K

-67.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$288 PKR 80.5K

-63.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$743 PKR 207.4K

$1,526 PKR 425.8K

-51.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$560 PKR 156.4K

$740 PKR 206.6K

-24.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 PKR 85.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.2

-1.58%

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

Last update for Sahiwal: April 28, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $73.9 in Sahiwal versus $200 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Sahiwal versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $99.0 – making Sahiwal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Sahiwal vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $561 per month in Sahiwal and $814 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sahiwal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Sahiwal and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $374 in Sahiwal and $543 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sahiwal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sahiwal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.