Cost of Living Comparison Between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,175 in Saudi Arabia versus $392 in Pakistan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,799 in Saudi Arabia versus $591 in Pakistan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,423 in Saudi Arabia versus $790 in Pakistan.

Living in Saudi Arabia is roughly 200% more expensive than Pakistan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Saudi Arabia 12% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Saudi Arabia: monthly costs span $922 to $1,739, compared to $287$529 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Saudi Arabia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.79 SAR 25.47
$1.82 PKR 506
273.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.69 SAR 149
$12.25 PKR 3,409
224.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.21 SAR 30.80
$4.27 PKR 1,188
92.27%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 SAR 6.94
$1.80 PKR 500
2.78%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 SAR 6.81
$4.08 PKR 1,136
-55.39%
Cappuccino
$3.65 SAR 13.69
$1.77 PKR 493
106.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 SAR 2.71
$0.34 PKR 93.3
111.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 SAR 0.93
$0.23 PKR 64.2
8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 SAR 6.43
$0.77 PKR 214
122.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 SAR 3.83
$0.56 PKR 155
82.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 SAR 8.23
$1.22 PKR 340
79.51%
Eggs
$2.60 SAR 9.77
$1.21 PKR 337
114.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.13 SAR 26.76
$5.68 PKR 1,579
25.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 SAR 29.65
$3.00 PKR 835
163.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.29 SAR 49.89
$4.29 PKR 1,193
209.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 SAR 8.34
$1.02 PKR 284
117.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 SAR 6.10
$0.62 PKR 174
161.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 SAR 6.12
$0.77 PKR 213
111.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 SAR 5.96
$0.49 PKR 138
224.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 SAR 4.88
$0.35 PKR 98.2
271.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 SAR 4.88
$0.48 PKR 134
170.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 SAR 4.67
$0.38 PKR 106
226.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 SAR 2.11
$0.36 PKR 99.7
55.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.17 SAR 15.65
$1.91 PKR 532
118.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 SAR 6.53
$1.09 PKR 304
59.63%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SAR 7.97
$2.00 PKR 557
6.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.24 SAR 27.17
$1.96 PKR 546
269.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 SAR 3.96
$0.15 PKR 42.98
606.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.80 SAR 138
$7.14 PKR 1,987
415.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 SAR 10.04
$0.85 PKR 237
214.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.61 SAR 9.78
$0.51 PKR 143
411.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.46 SAR 50.5
$1.81 PKR 503
643.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 SAR 2.42
$0.90 PKR 249
-28.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K SAR 95.2K
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
45.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K SAR 82.3K
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
-8.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 SAR 392
$110 PKR 30.7K
-5.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.63 SAR 126
$4.72 PKR 1,313
612.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 SAR 271
$15.34 PKR 4,268
371.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$93.8 SAR 352
$13.40 PKR 3,728
600.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.47 SAR 156
$8.53 PKR 2,374
386.17%
Cinema Ticket
$16.29 SAR 61.1
$4.31 PKR 1,199
277.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$358 SAR 1,344
$38.86 PKR 10.8K
821.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,183 SAR 27.0K
$1,143 PKR 318.1K
528.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 SAR 190
$15.81 PKR 4,398
220.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9 SAR 217
$23.47 PKR 6,529
146.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 SAR 356
$72.0 PKR 20.0K
31.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 SAR 313
$33.27 PKR 9,255
150.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 SAR 1,790
$111 PKR 30.9K
329.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$403 SAR 1,511
$67.3 PKR 18.7K
498.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$870 SAR 3,264
$272 PKR 75.7K
219.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$649 SAR 2,436
$167 PKR 46.5K
288.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,272 SAR 8,526
$983 PKR 273.4K
131.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,265 SAR 4,746
$519 PKR 144.4K
143.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,004 SAR 7,520
$185 PKR 51.5K
983.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.65
18.97
-75.49%

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

Last update for Saudi Arabia: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $419 in Saudi Arabia, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $1,072 in Riyadh vs $198 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $1,999 in Saudi Arabia, $187 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 437% higher in Saudi Arabia.

Dining out costs 264% more in Saudi Arabia.

Public transport is 471% more expensive in Saudi Arabia.

Salaries are 969% higher in Saudi Arabia, giving Saudi Arabia stronger purchasing power.

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
Saudi Arabia vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia?
At $408 per month in Pakistan and $1,331 in Saudi Arabia, there's a 226% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Pakistan is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Saudi Arabia beats Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Saudi Arabia, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Pakistan or Saudi Arabia?
It depends on what you're after. Pakistan wins on affordability; Saudi Arabia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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