Cost of Living Comparison Between Faisalabad and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Faisalabad and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $349 per month in Faisalabad vs $484 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $548 per month in Faisalabad vs $735 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $746 per month in Faisalabad vs $987 in Karachi, rent included.

Faisalabad is about 28% cheaper than Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Faisalabad and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Faisalabad 74% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 495

$2.06 PKR 572

-13.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.58 PKR 2,937

$12.56 PKR 3,487

-15.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 PKR 958

$3.99 PKR 1,108

-13.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PKR 769

$1.93 PKR 537

43.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 PKR 1,303

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-11.01%

Cappuccino

$1.46 PKR 406

$1.81 PKR 502

-19.34%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.33 PKR 92.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.7

$0.21 PKR 58.0

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.79 PKR 220

-10.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.58 PKR 161

8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 349

$1.18 PKR 328

6.78%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.15 PKR 321

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 PKR 1,993

$6.41 PKR 1,781

12.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 PKR 733

$3.12 PKR 867

-15.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 907

$5.09 PKR 1,413

-35.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.03 PKR 286

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.60 PKR 166

-8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.92 PKR 257

-32.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.57 PKR 159

-7.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.8

$0.35 PKR 98.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.50 PKR 140

2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.36 PKR 99.8

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.41 PKR 113

4.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.25 PKR 346

-17.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PKR 201

$1.32 PKR 367

-45.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 PKR 970

$2.06 PKR 572

69.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 529

$2.16 PKR 599

-12.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.3

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.52 PKR 978

$6.43 PKR 1,785

-45.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.74 PKR 206

40.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.61 PKR 170

-40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.74 PKR 484

3.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.94 PKR 261

3.19%

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

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

31.16%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-17.09%

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

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-55.98%

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

$3.76 PKR 1,045

$5.00 PKR 1,388

-24.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.89 PKR 3,578

$13.28 PKR 3,689

-2.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.16 PKR 4,209

$15.87 PKR 4,406

-4.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.77 PKR 2,990

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-24.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-20.05%

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

$28.39 PKR 7,883

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

-51.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,144 PKR 317.5K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

-15.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.26 PKR 4,516

$17.71 PKR 4,919

-8.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.92 PKR 6,087

$25.79 PKR 7,162

-15.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-7.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.61 PKR 7,112

$35.84 PKR 9,953

-28.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.6 PKR 19.9K

$118 PKR 32.8K

-39.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$47.84 PKR 13.3K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

-35.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$146 PKR 40.6K

$319 PKR 88.6K

-54.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$181 PKR 50.3K

-41.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$535 PKR 148.6K

$932 PKR 258.7K

-42.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$250 PKR 69.6K

$433 PKR 120.3K

-42.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 PKR 52.6K

$177 PKR 49.1K

7.13%

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 Faisalabad: July 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.6 in Faisalabad versus $118 in Karachi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Faisalabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Faisalabad versus $13.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $91.0 vs $97.0 – making Faisalabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Faisalabad vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi costs about 38% more than Faisalabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $524 per month in Faisalabad and $726 in Karachi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Faisalabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Karachi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Faisalabad and $13.00 in Karachi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $349 in Faisalabad and $484 in Karachi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Faisalabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Faisalabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.