For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $1,284 in Saudi Arabia, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Saudi Arabia and in Pakistan
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saudi Arabia and in Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,284 in Saudi Arabia versus $483 in Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia $1,284
Pakistan $483
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,916 in Saudi Arabia versus $736 in Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia $1,916
Pakistan $736
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,549 in Saudi Arabia versus $988 in Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia $2,549
Pakistan $988
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Saudi Arabia: monthly costs span $674 to $1,738, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Saudi Arabia.
🌍
Living in Saudi Arabia is roughly 166% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Saudi Arabia 6% lower, Pakistan 65% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.74SAR 25.28
$2.11PKR 583
219.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.36SAR 151
$13.97PKR 3,866
188.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.14SAR 30.53
$5.50PKR 1,523
48.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99SAR 7.46
$2.22PKR 616
-10.36%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12SAR 7.95
$4.31PKR 1,193
-50.81%
Cappuccino
$3.78SAR 14.19
$1.97PKR 546
91.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75SAR 2.83
$0.38PKR 105
97.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27SAR 1.02
$0.23PKR 63.7
17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.39
$0.87PKR 240
95.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11SAR 4.17
$0.60PKR 165
85.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21SAR 8.30
$1.21PKR 335
82.64%
Eggs
$2.67SAR 10.02
$1.21PKR 334
120.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.68SAR 28.80
$5.42PKR 1,500
41.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.86SAR 29.49
$2.83PKR 783
177.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.44SAR 50.4
$5.06PKR 1,400
165.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.10
$1.20PKR 331
80.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79SAR 6.70
$0.64PKR 176
179.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73SAR 6.48
$0.87PKR 241
98.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.69SAR 6.35
$0.54PKR 149
212.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31SAR 4.91
$0.33PKR 91.8
296.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.99
$0.39PKR 108
241.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27SAR 4.76
$0.37PKR 104
243.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62SAR 2.32
$0.41PKR 113
51.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.07SAR 15.25
$2.08PKR 575
95.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64SAR 6.16
$1.07PKR 296
53.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18SAR 8.17
$2.36PKR 652
-7.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.32SAR 27.45
$2.14PKR 593
242.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$0.20PKR 55.0
450.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.07SAR 143
$10.01PKR 2,769
280.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.74SAR 10.27
$0.88PKR 243
211.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.70SAR 10.12
$0.56PKR 155
382.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.49SAR 50.6
$2.22PKR 614
507.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.26
$1.29PKR 357
-53.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KSAR 114.2K
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
71.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KSAR 80.5K
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
-11.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.9SAR 367
$110PKR 30.5K
-11.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.85SAR 120
$5.41PKR 1,496
488.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1SAR 252
$15.79PKR 4,369
324.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.8SAR 300
$18.50PKR 5,119
331.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.07SAR 147
$11.09PKR 3,067
252.30%
Cinema Ticket
$13.92SAR 52.2
$4.32PKR 1,195
222.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$458SAR 1,718
$56.4PKR 15.6K
712.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,896SAR 33.4K
$1,511PKR 418.2K
488.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.43SAR 182
$17.56PKR 4,860
175.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7SAR 213
$23.58PKR 6,523
140.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5SAR 336
$76.7PKR 21.2K
16.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3SAR 324
$35.08PKR 9,706
145.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$641SAR 2,405
$150PKR 41.5K
327.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$460SAR 1,727
$87.4PKR 24.2K
426.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,008SAR 3,782
$320PKR 88.7K
214.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$699SAR 2,623
$190PKR 52.5K
268.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,013SAR 7,553
$970PKR 268.5K
107.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,252SAR 4,697
$520PKR 144.0K
140.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,864SAR 6,994
$192PKR 53.2K
870.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.4
14.1
-61.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saudi Arabia: October 26, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Saudi Arabia
$460 35.8%
Pakistan
$87 18.1% ↓ 81%$373
🛒Groceries & Markets
Saudi Arabia
$206 16.1%
Pakistan
$94 19.5% ↓ 54.4%$112
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saudi Arabia
$197 15.3%
Pakistan
$131 27.2% ↓ 33.2%$65
🍽Eating Out
Saudi Arabia
$128 10%
Pakistan
$59 12.3% ↓ 53.5%$68
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Saudi Arabia
$126 9.9%
Pakistan
$69 14.3% ↓ 45.6%$58
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Saudi Arabia
$108 8.4%
Pakistan
$27 5.6% ↓ 74.8%$81
🚌Getting Around
Saudi Arabia
$59 4.6%
Pakistan
$14 3% ↓ 75.3%$44
🏠Accommodation & Living
Saudi Arabia
$699 27.5%
Pakistan
$190 19.2% ↓ 72.8%$509
🛒Groceries & Markets
Saudi Arabia
$505 19.8%
Pakistan
$228 23% ↓ 55%$278
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saudi Arabia
$229 9%
Pakistan
$137 13.9% ↓ 40.1%$92
🍽Eating Out
Saudi Arabia
$461 18.1%
Pakistan
$186 18.9% ↓ 59.6%$274
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Saudi Arabia
$281 11%
Pakistan
$153 15.5% ↓ 45.6%$128
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Saudi Arabia
$254 10%
Pakistan
$65 6.6% ↓ 74.3%$189
🚌Getting Around
Saudi Arabia
$120 4.7%
Pakistan
$29 3% ↓ 75.4%$90
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $556 in Saudi Arabia, $137 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $1,149 in Riyadh vs $261 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $1,949 in Saudi Arabia, $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 306% higher in Saudi Arabia.
⭐Dining out costs 208% more in Saudi Arabia.
⭐Public transport is 280% more expensive in Saudi Arabia.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times higher in Saudi Arabia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saudi Arabia.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $483 per month in Pakistan and $1,284 in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan comes out about 62% cheaper. 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $556 in Saudi Arabia and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Pakistan or in Saudi Arabia?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Saudi Arabia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to Saudi Arabia?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
Saudi Arabia vs other spots: cost of living compared