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: $370 in Sahiwal versus $431 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $565 in Sahiwal versus $665 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $761 in Sahiwal versus $899 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Sahiwal costs roughly 14% 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

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.79 PKR 497

-3.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,991

$14.27 PKR 3,960

-24.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 PKR 1,164

$5.26 PKR 1,460

-20.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PKR 669

$1.60 PKR 445

50.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PKR 1,024

$3.42 PKR 950

7.89%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.66 PKR 460

4.22%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.34 PKR 95.5

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.21 PKR 58.0

-9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.79 PKR 219

-22.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.56 PKR 156

-23.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.30 PKR 361

-13.08%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.14 PKR 316

0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 PKR 1,635

$5.98 PKR 1,660

-1.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 PKR 806

$3.26 PKR 906

-11.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.63 PKR 1,286

$4.47 PKR 1,240

3.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.02 PKR 283

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.63 PKR 175

-3.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.84 PKR 233

-57.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.50 PKR 139

-8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.37 PKR 102

-10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.52 PKR 144

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.26 PKR 72.8

80.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.0

$0.40 PKR 110

-15.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$15.96 PKR 4,429

-93.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 150

$1.02 PKR 284

-47.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 311

$2.37 PKR 658

-52.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 526

$1.92 PKR 533

-1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53.9

$0.20 PKR 56.6

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.00 PKR 1,943

$9.59 PKR 2,663

-27.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.85 PKR 235

-12.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.32 PKR 90.0

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 502

$3.09 PKR 858

-41.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 262

$0.95 PKR 264

-1.05%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

0.91%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

1.35%

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

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$101 PKR 28.0K

-29.15%

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

$5.34 PKR 1,482

$3.96 PKR 1,100

34.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.57 PKR 4,876

$16.35 PKR 4,537

7.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.55 PKR 3,484

$9.86 PKR 2,737

27.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.91 PKR 1,640

$7.42 PKR 2,060

-20.35%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$3.57 PKR 990

1.40%

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

$17.38 PKR 4,824

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

-57.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,216 PKR 337.4K

$963 PKR 267.2K

26.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.30 PKR 3,968

$11.74 PKR 3,258

21.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.31 PKR 3,417

$18.96 PKR 5,263

-35.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 PKR 20.2K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-18.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.09 PKR 7,795

$29.12 PKR 8,081

-3.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.3 PKR 20.6K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-44.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.9 PKR 14.1K

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

-23.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.2K

$334 PKR 92.8K

-50.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-37.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$874 PKR 242.6K

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

-22.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 PKR 147.3K

$510 PKR 141.6K

4.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.7K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.3 in Sahiwal and $133 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 $94.0 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 16% in total monthly costs ($370 vs $431 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 $646 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: $74.3 in Sahiwal versus $133 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 $370 per month in Sahiwal versus $431 in Rawalpindi – a 16% 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 16% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.