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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $364 per month in Sahiwal vs $533 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $557 per month in Sahiwal vs $849 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $749 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,166 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sahiwal is about 32% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sahiwal and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sahiwal 73% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 503

$2.89 PKR 804

-37.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.51 PKR 2,923

$14.01 PKR 3,894

-24.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 PKR 1,166

$5.35 PKR 1,487

-21.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 PKR 710

$1.75 PKR 487

45.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 PKR 1,047

$3.97 PKR 1,105

-5.04%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.02 PKR 561

-14.36%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.6

$0.39 PKR 110

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 54.1

$0.22 PKR 61.1

-13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 PKR 176

$1.02 PKR 284

-38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.66 PKR 184

-37.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.27 PKR 353

-11.81%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.23 PKR 341

-6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,692

$6.02 PKR 1,675

1.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 847

$3.41 PKR 948

-10.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,222

$4.53 PKR 1,260

-3.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.03 PKR 288

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.84 PKR 233

-23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.90 PKR 251

-60.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.55 PKR 153

-18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.38 PKR 106

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.56 PKR 156

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.30 PKR 84.6

56.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 93.0

$0.41 PKR 113

-19.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 259

$1.99 PKR 553

-53.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.93 PKR 257

-41.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 310

$2.01 PKR 560

-44.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 537

$2.15 PKR 598

-10.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.7

$0.19 PKR 52.8

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,959

$6.95 PKR 1,933

1.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.85 PKR 236

-12.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.41 PKR 113

19.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 482

$2.81 PKR 781

-38.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.95 PKR 264

-5.26%

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

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-16.03%

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

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

-10.37%

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

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-36.22%

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

$5.47 PKR 1,520

$5.36 PKR 1,492

2.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 PKR 4,877

$18.59 PKR 5,168

-5.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.32 PKR 3,426

$22.15 PKR 6,158

-44.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 PKR 1,616

$5.89 PKR 1,638

-1.36%

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 PKR 988

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-18.20%

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

$17.89 PKR 4,974

$59.4 PKR 16.5K

-69.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,244 PKR 345.9K

$2,783 PKR 773.8K

-55.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.90 PKR 3,864

$21.12 PKR 5,873

-34.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.25 PKR 3,407

$27.99 PKR 7,782

-56.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 PKR 20.4K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-16.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.62 PKR 7,958

$39.46 PKR 11.0K

-27.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.6 PKR 20.7K

$201 PKR 56.0K

-62.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

$112 PKR 31.0K

-54.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.2K

$515 PKR 143.2K

-67.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$298 PKR 82.9K

-64.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 227.0K

$1,567 PKR 435.8K

-47.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 142.1K

$646 PKR 179.6K

-20.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 PKR 105.1K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.6 in Sahiwal versus $201 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: $87.0 vs $100 – 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 46%, 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 $546 per month in Sahiwal and $799 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 16% 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 $364 in Sahiwal and $533 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.