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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $370 per month in Sahiwal vs $532 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $565 per month in Sahiwal vs $834 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $761 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,136 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sahiwal is about 30% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sahiwal and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sahiwal 72% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.89 PKR 803

-40.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,991

$14.11 PKR 3,916

-23.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 PKR 1,164

$5.43 PKR 1,508

-22.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.76 PKR 488

36.93%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PKR 1,024

$3.79 PKR 1,051

-2.64%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.98 PKR 550

-12.63%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.39 PKR 108

-10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 PKR 168

$1.02 PKR 284

-40.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.62 PKR 172

-30.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.22 PKR 339

-7.38%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.22 PKR 338

-5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 PKR 1,635

$6.04 PKR 1,677

-2.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 PKR 806

$3.37 PKR 936

-13.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.63 PKR 1,286

$4.47 PKR 1,239

3.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.00 PKR 278

2.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.84 PKR 233

-27.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.93 PKR 259

-61.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.57 PKR 157

-19.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.41 PKR 115

-19.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.58 PKR 160

-12.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.33 PKR 91.8

42.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.0

$0.37 PKR 104

-8.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.90 PKR 528

-41.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.85 PKR 236

-36.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.96 PKR 543

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 526

$2.10 PKR 584

-9.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.9

$0.16 PKR 43.35

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.00 PKR 1,943

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-2.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.84 PKR 233

-11.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.44 PKR 122

18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.87 PKR 796

-36.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 262

$0.93 PKR 257

1.08%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-16.21%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-11.87%

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

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-36.83%

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

$5.34 PKR 1,482

$5.39 PKR 1,495

-0.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.57 PKR 4,876

$18.61 PKR 5,165

-5.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.55 PKR 3,484

$22.80 PKR 6,329

-44.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.91 PKR 1,640

$6.02 PKR 1,671

-1.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-16.78%

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

$17.38 PKR 4,824

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

-71.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,216 PKR 337.4K

$2,790 PKR 774.2K

-56.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.30 PKR 3,968

$21.18 PKR 5,878

-32.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.31 PKR 3,417

$28.13 PKR 7,807

-56.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 PKR 20.2K

$90.0 PKR 25.0K

-19.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.09 PKR 7,795

$40.15 PKR 11.1K

-30.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.3 PKR 20.6K

$197 PKR 54.8K

-62.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.9 PKR 14.1K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-53.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.2K

$513 PKR 142.4K

-67.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$299 PKR 83.1K

-63.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$874 PKR 242.6K

$1,569 PKR 435.5K

-44.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 PKR 147.3K

$647 PKR 179.5K

-17.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.5K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.3 in Sahiwal versus $197 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 44%, 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 $555 per month in Sahiwal and $798 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 $370 in Sahiwal and $532 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.