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: $372 in Sahiwal versus $482 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $566 in Sahiwal versus $737 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $759 in Sahiwal versus $992 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

$1.74 PKR 483

$2.08 PKR 578

-16.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.52 PKR 2,924

$12.44 PKR 3,458

-15.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 PKR 1,161

$4.07 PKR 1,131

2.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PKR 670

$2.00 PKR 557

20.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 PKR 1,022

$5.42 PKR 1,506

-32.10%

Cappuccino

$1.72 PKR 479

$1.88 PKR 524

-8.51%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.6

$0.34 PKR 93.2

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 52.5

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-17.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.80 PKR 223

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.54 PKR 149

-20.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.12 PKR 312

0.89%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.18 PKR 328

2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 PKR 1,662

$6.61 PKR 1,838

-9.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 PKR 835

$3.19 PKR 886

-5.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 PKR 1,267

$5.07 PKR 1,408

-10.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 295

$1.05 PKR 291

0.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.56 PKR 155

8.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.89 PKR 247

-61.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.57 PKR 158

-24.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.35 PKR 98.7

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.47 PKR 130

10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.35 PKR 98.0

34.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.41 PKR 113

-12.20%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.87 PKR 241

$1.27 PKR 354

-31.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.32 PKR 366

-60.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

$2.04 PKR 568

-45.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 532

$2.11 PKR 586

-9.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.36 PKR 100

-44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.26 PKR 2,020

$6.24 PKR 1,734

16.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.73 PKR 203

-6.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.61 PKR 171

-19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.75 PKR 487

4.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.88 PKR 245

9.09%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

6.68%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-5.23%

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

$70.8 PKR 19.7K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-46.70%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$5.11 PKR 1,419

9.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.52 PKR 4,872

$13.67 PKR 3,801

28.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.60 PKR 3,502

$15.52 PKR 4,315

-18.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 PKR 1,684

$14.45 PKR 4,018

-58.06%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 PKR 957

$4.21 PKR 1,172

-18.29%

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

$17.67 PKR 4,912

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-69.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,234 PKR 343.2K

$1,384 PKR 384.8K

-10.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.35 PKR 3,989

$17.48 PKR 4,859

-17.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.19 PKR 3,389

$24.97 PKR 6,943

-51.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

13.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.15 PKR 7,826

$36.19 PKR 10.1K

-22.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$117 PKR 32.6K

-36.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.8 PKR 14.7K

$73.8 PKR 20.5K

-28.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.5K

$312 PKR 86.7K

-46.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$182 PKR 50.5K

-42.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$904 PKR 251.3K

$929 PKR 258.2K

-2.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$428 PKR 119.1K

$437 PKR 121.4K

-1.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.9K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.1 in Sahiwal and $117 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 $87.0 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 29% in total monthly costs ($372 vs $482 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $558 in Sahiwal and $723 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: $75.1 in Sahiwal versus $117 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $372 per month in Sahiwal versus $482 in Karachi – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sahiwal runs roughly 16% 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 29% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.