Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $325 in Jhelum versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $512 in Jhelum versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $700 in Jhelum versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Jhelum costs roughly 32% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jhelum 76% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.14 PKR 595

-16.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.47 PKR 2,911

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-15.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$4.06 PKR 1,129

-11.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PKR 806

$1.99 PKR 553

45.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 PKR 1,363

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-6.13%

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 419

$1.89 PKR 525

-20.11%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.9

$0.36 PKR 101

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.23 PKR 64.2

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.83 PKR 231

-32.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.58 PKR 161

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.13 PKR 315

11.50%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.21 PKR 337

-4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,408

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-19.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.38 PKR 662

$3.19 PKR 887

-25.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 854

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-37.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.58 PKR 162

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.93 PKR 258

-32.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.56 PKR 156

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.9

$0.39 PKR 108

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.51 PKR 141

7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.19 PKR 51.5

$0.38 PKR 107

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.43 PKR 120

-48.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 PKR 282

$1.28 PKR 356

-21.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

$1.26 PKR 351

-42.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 550

$2.08 PKR 580

-4.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.84 PKR 235

$2.08 PKR 580

-59.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.0

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,924

$6.33 PKR 1,762

9.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 299

$0.74 PKR 205

44.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.61 PKR 171

-13.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.92 PKR 256

5.43%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

35.48%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-14.89%

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

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-60.00%

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

$2.87 PKR 799

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-41.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.02 PKR 3,623

$13.63 PKR 3,791

-4.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,500

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-19.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,628

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-59.18%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 PKR 957

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-20.55%

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

$17.79 PKR 4,950

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-69.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,111 PKR 309.1K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-20.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,498

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-8.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 PKR 6,210

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-12.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-6.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.22 PKR 7,294

$35.86 PKR 9,975

-26.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.5 PKR 20.7K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-38.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-29.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.5K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-49.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-40.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$851 PKR 236.6K

$985 PKR 273.9K

-13.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$454 PKR 126.3K

$457 PKR 127.2K

-0.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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 Jhelum: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.5 in Jhelum and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Jhelum vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $76.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Jhelum 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

Jhelum vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $487 in Jhelum and $715 in Karachi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $74.5 in Jhelum versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Karachi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $12.00 in Karachi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Jhelum 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.

Safety-wise, Jhelum and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.