Cost of Living Comparison Between Sahiwal and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sahiwal and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $374 in Sahiwal versus $423 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $564 in Sahiwal versus $670 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $753 in Sahiwal versus $917 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Sahiwal costs roughly 12% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sahiwal 72% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.75 PKR 487

-0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,962

$14.30 PKR 3,985

-25.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 PKR 1,158

$5.38 PKR 1,501

-22.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 PKR 710

$1.63 PKR 454

56.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 PKR 1,016

$3.53 PKR 985

3.12%

Cappuccino

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.71 PKR 477

2.34%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.2

$0.31 PKR 87.8

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 46.89

$0.21 PKR 58.3

-19.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 179

$0.85 PKR 238

-24.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.52 PKR 144

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 327

$1.29 PKR 360

-9.30%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.18 PKR 329

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 PKR 1,643

$6.18 PKR 1,724

-4.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 PKR 814

$3.44 PKR 959

-15.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.43 PKR 1,235

$4.46 PKR 1,244

-0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 293

$1.00 PKR 280

5.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 169

$0.64 PKR 177

-6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.86 PKR 239

-61.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.48 PKR 134

-4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.2

$0.36 PKR 101

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.49 PKR 136

-2.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.24 PKR 66.3

87.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.36 PKR 101

2.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.70 PKR 196

$15.92 PKR 4,437

-95.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.99 PKR 277

-48.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 297

$2.30 PKR 643

-53.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 554

$1.94 PKR 541

2.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.22

$0.18 PKR 50.8

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.97 PKR 1,944

$9.95 PKR 2,774

-29.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.84 PKR 234

-13.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.35 PKR 98.2

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 502

$3.07 PKR 856

-41.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 249

$0.97 PKR 271

-8.25%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

2.03%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

-0.65%

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

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

$103 PKR 28.7K

-31.93%

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

$5.48 PKR 1,528

$3.95 PKR 1,101

38.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.48 PKR 4,872

$16.31 PKR 4,545

7.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.16 PKR 3,389

$9.99 PKR 2,784

21.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,631

$7.52 PKR 2,097

-22.21%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 PKR 998

$3.64 PKR 1,015

-1.65%

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

$17.83 PKR 4,970

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-55.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,243 PKR 346.6K

$953 PKR 265.7K

30.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.12 PKR 3,936

$11.64 PKR 3,246

21.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.28 PKR 3,424

$18.40 PKR 5,131

-33.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

-16.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.15 PKR 7,848

$28.47 PKR 7,937

-1.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$130 PKR 36.2K

-43.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

-20.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.8K

$327 PKR 91.2K

-48.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$174 PKR 48.5K

-39.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$743 PKR 207.1K

$1,159 PKR 323.0K

-35.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$560 PKR 156.2K

$522 PKR 145.4K

7.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$174 PKR 48.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.17

-1.44%

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

Last update for Sahiwal: April 28, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Sahiwal and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Sahiwal vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $86.0 vs $95.0 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 Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sahiwal and Rawalpindi differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($374 vs $423 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $561 in Sahiwal and $635 in Rawalpindi 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: $73.9 in Sahiwal versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sahiwal – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $374 per month in Sahiwal versus $423 in Rawalpindi – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 13% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.