Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $304 in Bahawalpur versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $515 in Bahawalpur versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $726 in Bahawalpur versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 33% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 78% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.20 PKR 612

-20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.23 PKR 2,004

$14.33 PKR 3,976

-49.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.43 PKR 1,229

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-15.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 PKR 694

$2.14 PKR 594

16.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PKR 610

$7.36 PKR 2,041

-70.11%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 415

$2.20 PKR 610

-31.82%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.6

$0.33 PKR 92.4

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 53.0

$0.23 PKR 63.4

-17.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.89 PKR 248

-37.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.52 PKR 145

-17.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.24 PKR 345

-16.13%

Eggs

$1.00 PKR 276

$1.21 PKR 335

-17.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 PKR 2,434

$6.19 PKR 1,716

41.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$3.03 PKR 841

-17.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.08 PKR 1,133

$6.11 PKR 1,696

-33.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.22 PKR 340

-14.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.55 PKR 153

1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.98 PKR 272

-40.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.59 PKR 164

-18.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.6

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.31 PKR 85.3

61.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.39 PKR 109

28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.43 PKR 121

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.25 PKR 347

-59.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.32 PKR 365

-57.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 206

$2.48 PKR 687

-70.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 PKR 554

$1.79 PKR 496

11.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,275

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$0.74 PKR 205

48.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 PKR 294

$0.70 PKR 195

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PKR 815

$2.20 PKR 609

33.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.33 PKR 369

-14.29%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

31.63%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-22.41%

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

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-34.16%

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

$4.44 PKR 1,230

$5.88 PKR 1,631

-24.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.59 PKR 3,214

$12.86 PKR 3,567

-9.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,637

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.99 PKR 3,049

$18.66 PKR 5,177

-41.10%

Cinema Ticket

$7.28 PKR 2,019

$4.40 PKR 1,222

65.45%

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

$23.81 PKR 6,605

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-52.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.1K

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

-52.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.45 PKR 4,564

$14.81 PKR 4,109

11.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.94 PKR 6,086

$21.90 PKR 6,076

0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

-18.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.16 PKR 8,089

$35.81 PKR 9,933

-18.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 PKR 71.4K

$297 PKR 82.3K

-13.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-30.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

$976 PKR 270.9K

254.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.0K

$467 PKR 129.6K

62.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$136 PKR 37.6K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-25.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

12.88

-8.15%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Karachi pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $7.00 in Bahawalpur vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $91.0 vs $101 per month, with Bahawalpur 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

Bahawalpur vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Karachi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Karachi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Karachi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $304 per month in Bahawalpur versus $457 in Karachi – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur 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 Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.