Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalnagar and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalnagar and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $450 in Bahawalnagar versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Bahawalnagar versus $731 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $865 in Bahawalnagar versus $979 in Karachi.

Living in Bahawalnagar costs roughly 7% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalnagar 66% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 PKR 583

$2.06 PKR 572

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.92 PKR 3,862

$12.15 PKR 3,373

14.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 PKR 1,199

$4.00 PKR 1,111

8.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 PKR 765

$1.92 PKR 533

43.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

$5.33 PKR 1,478

-32.27%

Cappuccino

$2.27 PKR 630

$1.85 PKR 513

22.70%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.0

$0.33 PKR 92.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.84 PKR 232

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.58 PKR 162

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.12 PKR 310

8.04%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 326

$1.17 PKR 325

0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PKR 1,706

$6.28 PKR 1,744

-2.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.34 PKR 649

$3.18 PKR 884

-26.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 359

$5.03 PKR 1,396

-74.35%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 240

$1.05 PKR 291

-18.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.59 PKR 165

8.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.92 PKR 256

-39.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.54 PKR 149

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.35 PKR 98.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.47 PKR 130

4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.35 PKR 97.8

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.44 PKR 121

-13.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.29 PKR 358

-13.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 150

$1.27 PKR 353

-57.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 236

$2.05 PKR 569

-58.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 527

$2.08 PKR 578

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.1

$0.36 PKR 100

-44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.93 PKR 1,923

$6.42 PKR 1,782

7.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 187

$0.69 PKR 190

-1.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.66 PKR 184

-24.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 479

$1.73 PKR 480

-0.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 259

$0.92 PKR 254

1.09%

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

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

6.10%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

-7.45%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$133 PKR 36.8K

6.45%

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

$5.42 PKR 1,503

$4.86 PKR 1,349

11.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.30 PKR 4,802

$13.62 PKR 3,779

27.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.42 PKR 3,447

$15.31 PKR 4,250

-18.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 PKR 1,691

$14.55 PKR 4,038

-58.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,167

$4.11 PKR 1,142

2.43%

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

$34.65 PKR 9,615

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

-39.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

-11.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.24 PKR 4,230

$17.46 PKR 4,847

-12.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.48 PKR 6,239

$25.90 PKR 7,188

-13.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

14.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.04 PKR 8,338

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

-17.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.1 PKR 21.1K

$119 PKR 33.0K

-36.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

-31.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.6K

$318 PKR 88.2K

-47.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.0K

$185 PKR 51.3K

-43.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$911 PKR 252.7K

$912 PKR 253.2K

-0.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.4K

$442 PKR 122.5K

4.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

17.8

11.69%

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

Last update for Bahawalnagar: July 28, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.1 in Bahawalnagar and $119 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Bahawalnagar vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $79.0 vs $97.0, with Bahawalnagar cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bahawalnagar vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $675 in Bahawalnagar and $725 in Karachi 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: $76.1 in Bahawalnagar versus $119 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalnagar runs roughly 8% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $34.65 in Bahawalnagar versus $57.5 in Karachi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bahawalnagar 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.

Safety-wise, Bahawalnagar and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bahawalnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.