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: $364 in Sahiwal versus $427 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $557 in Sahiwal versus $665 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $749 in Sahiwal versus $902 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Sahiwal costs roughly 15% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sahiwal 73% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.75 PKR 485

3.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.51 PKR 2,923

$14.18 PKR 3,942

-25.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 PKR 1,166

$5.18 PKR 1,441

-19.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 PKR 710

$1.56 PKR 435

63.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 PKR 1,047

$3.42 PKR 951

10.23%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.67 PKR 464

3.59%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.6

$0.34 PKR 95.4

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 54.1

$0.21 PKR 58.1

-9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.80 PKR 221

-21.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.56 PKR 156

-26.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.29 PKR 358

-13.18%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.17 PKR 326

-1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,692

$6.08 PKR 1,690

0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 847

$3.33 PKR 926

-8.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,222

$4.52 PKR 1,256

-2.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.99 PKR 275

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.92 PKR 256

-60.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.51 PKR 141

-11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.36 PKR 100

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.24 PKR 66.7

95.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 93.0

$0.40 PKR 110

-17.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 259

$16.38 PKR 4,554

-94.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 151

$1.02 PKR 285

-47.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 310

$2.28 PKR 635

-50.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.90 PKR 530

1.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.7

$0.20 PKR 55.9

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 PKR 1,959

$9.52 PKR 2,646

-25.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.84 PKR 234

-11.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.33 PKR 91.0

48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 482

$3.07 PKR 854

-43.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.91 PKR 254

-1.10%

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

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

$17.4K PKR 4.9M

2.11%

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

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

2.08%

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

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$100 PKR 27.9K

-28.85%

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

$5.47 PKR 1,520

$4.12 PKR 1,146

32.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 PKR 4,877

$16.38 PKR 4,555

7.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.32 PKR 3,426

$10.15 PKR 2,821

21.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 PKR 1,616

$7.73 PKR 2,150

-24.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 PKR 988

$3.61 PKR 1,005

-1.66%

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

$17.89 PKR 4,974

$40.70 PKR 11.3K

-56.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,244 PKR 345.9K

$965 PKR 268.4K

28.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.90 PKR 3,864

$11.77 PKR 3,273

18.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.25 PKR 3,407

$18.65 PKR 5,184

-34.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 PKR 20.4K

$89.8 PKR 25.0K

-18.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.62 PKR 7,958

$28.17 PKR 7,832

1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.6 PKR 20.7K

$133 PKR 37.0K

-43.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

$65.5 PKR 18.2K

-21.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.2K

$333 PKR 92.6K

-50.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.7K

$172 PKR 47.9K

-37.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 227.0K

$1,130 PKR 314.2K

-27.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 142.1K

0.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.2K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.6 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 $87.0 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 17% in total monthly costs ($364 vs $427 including rent). Sahiwal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $546 in Sahiwal and $641 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: $74.6 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 $364 per month in Sahiwal versus $427 in Rawalpindi – a 17% 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 17% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.