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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $365 per month in Gujranwala vs $476 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $551 per month in Gujranwala vs $732 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $738 per month in Gujranwala vs $988 in Karachi, rent included.

Gujranwala is about 23% cheaper than Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gujranwala and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Gujranwala 73% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$0.51 PKR 142

$2.11 PKR 588

-75.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.91 PKR 3,883

$12.18 PKR 3,400

14.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,495

$4.21 PKR 1,176

27.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.92 PKR 537

-55.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 PKR 1,057

$5.37 PKR 1,498

-29.42%

Cappuccino

$1.37 PKR 381

$1.81 PKR 504

-24.31%

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

$0.22 PKR 61.5

$0.34 PKR 94.3

-35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 PKR 38.49

$0.21 PKR 58.5

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.84 PKR 235

-15.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.54 PKR 152

20.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 318

$1.13 PKR 316

0.88%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 316

$1.16 PKR 324

-2.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.25 PKR 1,744

$6.36 PKR 1,774

-1.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.46 PKR 686

$3.18 PKR 889

-22.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.04 PKR 1,129

$5.13 PKR 1,431

-21.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 280

$1.05 PKR 293

-4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.58 PKR 163

13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 PKR 265

$0.94 PKR 261

1.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.56 PKR 157

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.47 PKR 131

-2.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.1

$0.36 PKR 99.8

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 105

$0.43 PKR 121

-13.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.41 PKR 393

24.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 239

$1.30 PKR 363

-33.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 574

$2.05 PKR 572

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 PKR 565

$2.18 PKR 609

-7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.0

$0.36 PKR 102

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.10 PKR 1,982

$6.54 PKR 1,825

8.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.74 PKR 207

-25.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.62 PKR 174

-33.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 PKR 388

$1.76 PKR 491

-21.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.94 PKR 264

-1.06%

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

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

28.19%

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

$14.0K PKR 3.9M

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

-43.87%

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

$113 PKR 31.7K

$137 PKR 38.3K

-17.44%

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

$3.46 PKR 965

$4.99 PKR 1,392

-30.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.77 PKR 4,681

$13.58 PKR 3,792

23.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.85 PKR 1,354

$15.81 PKR 4,413

-69.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.87 PKR 801

$14.27 PKR 3,983

-79.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 PKR 930

$4.29 PKR 1,197

-22.38%

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

$16.83 PKR 4,698

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

-71.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$848 PKR 236.6K

$1,373 PKR 383.3K

-38.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.60 PKR 3,517

$17.85 PKR 4,982

-29.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.36 PKR 6,798

$25.82 PKR 7,206

-5.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 PKR 24.3K

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

33.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.90 PKR 5,835

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

-42.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$54.8 PKR 15.3K

$120 PKR 33.6K

-54.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$19.19 PKR 5,358

$75.1 PKR 21.0K

-74.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 PKR 32.1K

$321 PKR 89.6K

-64.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$56.8 PKR 15.9K

$183 PKR 50.9K

-68.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$229 PKR 63.8K

$167 PKR 46.6K

36.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.8

13.48%

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

Last update for Gujranwala: April 26, 2026

Last update for Karachi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $54.8 in Gujranwala versus $120 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 37% 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 $14.00 in Gujranwala versus $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries tell a different story – $89.0 in Gujranwala vs $97.0 in Karachi – so Gujranwala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $365 in Gujranwala, $476 in Karachi – roughly 30% apart. Karachi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $547 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 $14.00 in Gujranwala and $12.00 in Karachi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $365 in Gujranwala and $476 in Karachi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $365 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.