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: $337 in Bahawalpur versus $484 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $725 in Bahawalpur versus $987 in Karachi.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 30% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.06 PKR 572

-15.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.78 PKR 2,439

$12.56 PKR 3,487

-30.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 PKR 964

$3.99 PKR 1,108

-13.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 PKR 388

$1.93 PKR 537

-27.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 PKR 1,321

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-9.68%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.81 PKR 502

-28.73%

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

$0.30 PKR 84.7

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.21 PKR 58.0

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.79 PKR 220

-35.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.58 PKR 161

-8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.18 PKR 328

4.24%

Eggs

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.15 PKR 321

-8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 PKR 2,047

$6.41 PKR 1,781

14.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 714

$3.12 PKR 867

-17.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 903

$5.09 PKR 1,413

-36.15%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.03 PKR 286

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.60 PKR 166

-8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.92 PKR 257

-71.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.57 PKR 159

-7.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.5

$0.35 PKR 98.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.50 PKR 140

2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.36 PKR 99.8

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 82.9

$0.41 PKR 113

-26.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.25 PKR 346

-22.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.32 PKR 367

-47.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 PKR 963

$2.06 PKR 572

68.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 PKR 511

$2.16 PKR 599

-14.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.4

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.80 PKR 499

$6.43 PKR 1,785

-72.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 301

$0.74 PKR 206

45.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 57.0

$0.61 PKR 170

-65.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 297

$1.74 PKR 484

-38.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.94 PKR 261

4.26%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

27.73%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-16.82%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-57.17%

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

$3.89 PKR 1,080

$5.00 PKR 1,388

-22.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.75 PKR 3,541

$13.28 PKR 3,689

-3.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,454

$15.87 PKR 4,406

-21.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.09 PKR 2,247

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-43.62%

Cinema Ticket

$2.18 PKR 605

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-49.77%

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

$26.76 PKR 7,431

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

-54.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 PKR 189.1K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

-49.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 PKR 4,419

$17.71 PKR 4,919

-10.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.24 PKR 6,174

$25.79 PKR 7,162

-13.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-7.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.13 PKR 7,255

$35.84 PKR 9,953

-27.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$118 PKR 32.8K

-11.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

-28.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 PKR 65.0K

$319 PKR 88.6K

-26.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$181 PKR 50.3K

-25.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

$932 PKR 258.7K

271.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 PKR 216.5K

$433 PKR 120.3K

79.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$177 PKR 49.1K

-23.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

1.12%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Bahawalpur and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 31% 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: $9.00 in Bahawalpur vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $97.0 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 44% 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 31% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $105 in Bahawalpur versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $337 per month in Bahawalpur versus $484 in Karachi – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 257% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 44% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.