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: $338 in Bahawalpur versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $724 in Bahawalpur versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 29% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 498

$2.14 PKR 595

-16.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.97 PKR 2,495

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-27.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 PKR 959

$4.06 PKR 1,129

-15.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.99 PKR 553

-27.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 PKR 1,299

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-10.54%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 359

$1.89 PKR 525

-31.75%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.36 PKR 101

-13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.83 PKR 231

-40.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.58 PKR 161

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.13 PKR 315

15.04%

Eggs

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.21 PKR 337

-14.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 PKR 2,044

$6.29 PKR 1,749

16.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 PKR 743

$3.19 PKR 887

-16.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 909

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-33.40%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 274

$1.03 PKR 287

-4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.58 PKR 162

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.93 PKR 258

-72.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.56 PKR 156

-3.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.39 PKR 108

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.38 PKR 107

65.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 89.5

$0.43 PKR 120

-25.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.94 PKR 263

$1.28 PKR 356

-26.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$1.26 PKR 351

-46.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 976

$2.08 PKR 580

68.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 PKR 521

$2.08 PKR 580

-10.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.81 PKR 503

$6.33 PKR 1,762

-71.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.74 PKR 205

47.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 PKR 49.67

$0.61 PKR 171

-70.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.79 PKR 497

-42.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.92 PKR 256

6.52%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

30.57%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-13.43%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-56.40%

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

$3.87 PKR 1,077

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-21.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.79 PKR 3,559

$13.63 PKR 3,791

-6.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,430

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-20.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 PKR 2,183

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-45.22%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 PKR 586

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-51.27%

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

$26.12 PKR 7,266

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-54.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.6K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-52.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,433

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-10.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,157

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-13.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-5.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.44 PKR 7,357

$35.86 PKR 9,976

-26.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.6K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-12.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-26.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.7K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-30.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.4K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-26.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

$985 PKR 273.9K

261.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.5K

$457 PKR 127.3K

66.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$137 PKR 38.1K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-24.11%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Bahawalpur and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 32% 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 $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $85.0 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 41% 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, Karachi earns 32% less. 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: $106 in Bahawalpur versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $338 per month in Bahawalpur versus $477 in Karachi – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 250% 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 41% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.