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: $370 in Sahiwal versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $565 in Sahiwal versus $731 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $761 in Sahiwal versus $979 in Karachi.

Living in Sahiwal costs roughly 23% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sahiwal 72% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.06 PKR 572

-16.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,991

$12.15 PKR 3,373

-11.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 PKR 1,164

$4.00 PKR 1,111

5.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.92 PKR 533

25.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PKR 1,024

$5.33 PKR 1,478

-30.77%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.85 PKR 513

-6.49%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.7

$0.33 PKR 92.7

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-17.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.84 PKR 232

-27.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.58 PKR 162

-25.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.12 PKR 310

0.89%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.17 PKR 325

-1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 PKR 1,635

$6.28 PKR 1,744

-6.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 PKR 806

$3.18 PKR 884

-8.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.63 PKR 1,286

$5.03 PKR 1,396

-7.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.05 PKR 291

-2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.59 PKR 165

3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.92 PKR 256

-60.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.54 PKR 149

-14.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.47 PKR 130

8.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.35 PKR 97.8

34.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.0

$0.44 PKR 121

-22.73%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.29 PKR 358

-13.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 150

$1.27 PKR 353

-57.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 311

$2.05 PKR 569

-45.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 526

$2.08 PKR 578

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.9

$0.36 PKR 100

-47.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.00 PKR 1,943

$6.42 PKR 1,782

9.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.69 PKR 190

7.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.66 PKR 184

-21.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.73 PKR 480

4.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 262

$0.92 PKR 254

2.17%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

5.04%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

-6.22%

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

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-46.18%

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

$5.34 PKR 1,482

$4.86 PKR 1,349

9.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.57 PKR 4,876

$13.62 PKR 3,779

29.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.55 PKR 3,483

$15.31 PKR 4,250

-18.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.91 PKR 1,639

$14.55 PKR 4,038

-59.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$4.11 PKR 1,142

-11.92%

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

$17.38 PKR 4,824

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

-69.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,216 PKR 337.4K

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

-12.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.30 PKR 3,968

$17.46 PKR 4,847

-18.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.31 PKR 3,417

$25.90 PKR 7,188

-52.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 PKR 20.2K

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

14.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.09 PKR 7,795

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

-22.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.3 PKR 20.6K

$119 PKR 33.0K

-37.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.9 PKR 14.1K

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

-32.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.2K

$318 PKR 88.2K

-47.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$185 PKR 51.3K

-41.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$874 PKR 242.6K

$912 PKR 253.2K

-4.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 PKR 147.3K

$442 PKR 122.5K

20.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

17.8

11.69%

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

Last update for Sahiwal: July 26, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.3 in Sahiwal and $119 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Sahiwal vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $86.0 vs $97.0 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 31% in total monthly costs ($370 vs $483 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $555 in Sahiwal and $725 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: $74.3 in Sahiwal versus $119 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $370 per month in Sahiwal versus $483 in Karachi – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sahiwal runs roughly 9% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sahiwal 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 Sahiwal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.