Cost of Living Comparison Between Sahiwal and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sahiwal and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $508 in Sahiwal versus $476 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $739 in Sahiwal versus $742 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $970 in Sahiwal versus $1,009 in Karachi.

Living in Sahiwal is roughly 7% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sahiwal 63% lower, Karachi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.58 PKR 716

$2.20 PKR 609

17.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.50 PKR 4,015

$13.66 PKR 3,784

6.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,503

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-1.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.70 PKR 1,024

$2.15 PKR 594

72.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.36 PKR 1,486

$7.36 PKR 2,038

-27.17%

Cappuccino

$2.66 PKR 737

$2.23 PKR 617

19.28%

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

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.36 PKR 99.2

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.3

$0.26 PKR 72.4

-7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.85 PKR 234

3.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 184

$0.55 PKR 154

21.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 334

$1.20 PKR 332

0.83%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 334

$1.22 PKR 338

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 PKR 1,773

$6.24 PKR 1,727

2.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.56 PKR 710

$3.10 PKR 860

-17.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.96 PKR 1,375

$6.36 PKR 1,760

-22.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.27 PKR 351

-7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.54 PKR 150

18.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$1.04 PKR 287

-19.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.61 PKR 168

9.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.1

$0.32 PKR 88.2

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.6

$0.30 PKR 84.4

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.40 PKR 110

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.4

$0.43 PKR 120

-20.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 294

$1.28 PKR 355

-17.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$1.38 PKR 381

-52.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.41 PKR 666

-28.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 PKR 619

$1.82 PKR 503

22.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 45.74

$0.28 PKR 77.4

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,741

$8.08 PKR 2,239

22.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 PKR 259

$0.74 PKR 205

27.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 204

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 504

$2.11 PKR 583

-13.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 PKR 364

$1.32 PKR 366

-0.76%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

-2.01%

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

$26.4K PKR 7.3M

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

-2.88%

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

$130 PKR 36.0K

$109 PKR 30.2K

19.47%

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

$5.29 PKR 1,466

$5.83 PKR 1,614

-9.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.48 PKR 4,565

$12.96 PKR 3,589

27.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.78 PKR 4,370

$21.39 PKR 5,926

-26.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,213

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 PKR 1,173

$4.25 PKR 1,178

-0.47%

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

$46.55 PKR 12.9K

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

-7.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

25.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,795

$15.72 PKR 4,355

10.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.13 PKR 7,513

$22.45 PKR 6,217

20.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 PKR 21.0K

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

10.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.91 PKR 8,839

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

-17.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 PKR 38.7K

$111 PKR 30.8K

25.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.0 PKR 18.6K

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

-8.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 PKR 66.8K

$327 PKR 90.5K

-26.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.5K

$181 PKR 50.1K

-7.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 PKR 221.5K

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

-21.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 141.8K

$484 PKR 134.1K

5.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

12.88

10.87%

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

Last update for Sahiwal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Sahiwal and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Sahiwal vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96.0 vs $102 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

Sahiwal vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sahiwal and Karachi differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($508 vs $476 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $761 in Sahiwal and $714 in Karachi 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: $140 in Sahiwal versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $508 per month in Sahiwal versus $476 in Karachi – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 22% less than in Sahiwal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Sahiwal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.