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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $497 per month in Sahiwal vs $604 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $722 per month in Sahiwal vs $939 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $947 per month in Sahiwal vs $1,275 in Islamabad, rent included.

Sahiwal is about 18% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sahiwal and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Sahiwal 64% lower, Islamabad 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 709

$3.49 PKR 968

-26.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.38 PKR 3,985

$22.94 PKR 6,356

-37.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 PKR 1,531

$5.54 PKR 1,535

-0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 PKR 981

$3.67 PKR 1,017

-3.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 PKR 1,492

$6.69 PKR 1,854

-19.58%

Cappuccino

$2.57 PKR 711

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.35 PKR 97.3

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.3

$0.23 PKR 63.9

13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.93 PKR 259

-2.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.79 PKR 218

-16.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.24 PKR 344

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.27 PKR 350

-3.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.47 PKR 1,794

$6.18 PKR 1,712

4.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 679

$3.17 PKR 879

-22.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.93 PKR 1,365

$5.51 PKR 1,527

-10.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.29 PKR 358

-6.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.86 PKR 239

-23.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PKR 229

$1.01 PKR 280

-17.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.49 PKR 134

30.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.5

$0.26 PKR 71.4

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.8

$0.33 PKR 90.2

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 126

$0.28 PKR 76.6

60.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 92.9

$0.40 PKR 110

-15.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.10 PKR 305

$1.98 PKR 550

-44.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 PKR 169

$1.19 PKR 330

-48.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PKR 477

$2.68 PKR 742

-35.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 583

$2.40 PKR 665

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.60

$0.19 PKR 53.4

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.75 PKR 2,701

$21.97 PKR 6,086

-55.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 257

$1.29 PKR 358

-27.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 193

$0.74 PKR 206

-5.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 491

$1.57 PKR 435

12.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.30 PKR 359

2.31%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$53.1K PKR 14.7M

-66.56%

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

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

$24.4K PKR 6.8M

6.33%

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

$124 PKR 34.4K

$102 PKR 28.4K

21.21%

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

$5.20 PKR 1,441

$5.83 PKR 1,616

-10.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.26 PKR 4,504

$15.65 PKR 4,336

3.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.02 PKR 4,161

$27.66 PKR 7,662

-45.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.86 PKR 2,456

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 PKR 1,221

$4.31 PKR 1,194

2.32%

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

$44.39 PKR 12.3K

$74.9 PKR 20.7K

-40.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,010 PKR 556.9K

$5,069 PKR 1.4M

-60.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.73 PKR 4,634

$24.79 PKR 6,868

-32.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 PKR 6,913

$34.54 PKR 9,569

-27.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 PKR 20.3K

$96.3 PKR 26.7K

-24.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.87 PKR 8,274

$39.98 PKR 11.1K

-25.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$270 PKR 74.7K

-53.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.4 PKR 21.4K

$140 PKR 38.7K

-44.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 PKR 69.9K

$598 PKR 165.6K

-57.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.8K

$281 PKR 77.9K

-46.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$909 PKR 251.9K

$1,685 PKR 466.9K

-46.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 141.5K

$817 PKR 226.3K

-37.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 PKR 103.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

13.08

8.72%

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

Last update for Sahiwal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Sahiwal versus $270 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 $14.00 in Sahiwal versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $96.0 vs $104 – 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 21%, 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 $745 per month in Sahiwal and $905 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 8% 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 $14.00 in Sahiwal and $23.00 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 $497 in Sahiwal and $604 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.