Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujranwala and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Gujranwala and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $392 per month in Gujranwala vs $476 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $620 per month in Gujranwala vs $742 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Gujranwala vs $1,009 in Karachi, rent included.

Gujranwala is about 18% cheaper than Karachi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Gujranwala and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Gujranwala 71% lower, Karachi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 986

$2.20 PKR 609

61.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.81 PKR 3,549

$13.66 PKR 3,785

-6.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 PKR 1,533

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 PKR 258

$2.15 PKR 595

-56.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.67 PKR 1,847

$7.36 PKR 2,039

-9.38%

Cappuccino

$1.20 PKR 332

$2.23 PKR 617

-46.19%

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

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 48.35

$0.26 PKR 72.4

-34.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.85 PKR 234

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 198

$0.55 PKR 154

30.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.20 PKR 332

-6.67%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.22 PKR 338

4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.25 PKR 1,730

$6.24 PKR 1,727

0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.42 PKR 671

$3.10 PKR 860

-21.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.11 PKR 1,415

$6.36 PKR 1,761

-19.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 PKR 363

$1.27 PKR 351

3.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.54 PKR 150

62.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.04 PKR 287

-9.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.61 PKR 168

-14.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.1

$0.32 PKR 88.2

-18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.2

$0.30 PKR 84.4

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.40 PKR 110

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.4

$0.43 PKR 120

-20.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.83 PKR 507

$1.28 PKR 355

42.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.38 PKR 381

-19.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 PKR 741

$2.41 PKR 666

10.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 581

$1.82 PKR 503

15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.59

$0.28 PKR 77.4

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.74 PKR 205

36.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 PKR 206

$0.74 PKR 204

1.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 PKR 387

$2.11 PKR 583

-33.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PKR 321

$1.32 PKR 366

-12.12%

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

$18.4K PKR 5.1M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

1.68%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

-20.63%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$109 PKR 30.2K

-6.01%

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

$5.43 PKR 1,504

$5.83 PKR 1,614

-6.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.71 PKR 4,351

$12.96 PKR 3,589

21.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.34 PKR 2,032

$21.39 PKR 5,927

-65.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,667

$18.82 PKR 5,214

-68.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.25 PKR 1,178

2.82%

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

$27.93 PKR 7,737

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

-44.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$949 PKR 262.9K

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

-39.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.46 PKR 4,005

$15.72 PKR 4,355

-8.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.60 PKR 7,091

$22.45 PKR 6,218

14.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

3.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.95 PKR 9,406

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

-12.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$54.3 PKR 15.0K

$111 PKR 30.8K

-51.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$31.05 PKR 8,603

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

-57.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$327 PKR 90.5K

-51.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.7 PKR 27.3K

$181 PKR 50.1K

-45.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$237 PKR 65.8K

$178 PKR 49.2K

33.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

12.88

-10.71%

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

Last update for Gujranwala: September 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $54.3 in Gujranwala versus $111 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 34% higher in Gujranwala, 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 $13.00 in Gujranwala versus $14.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $96.0 vs $102 – making Gujranwala 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

Gujranwala vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $392 in Gujranwala, $476 in Karachi – roughly 21% apart. Karachi costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $589 per month in Gujranwala and $714 in Karachi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Gujranwala and $14.00 in Karachi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Karachi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $392 in Gujranwala and $476 in Karachi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Gujranwala – 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 Gujranwala. 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.