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: $324 in Jhelum versus $484 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $510 in Jhelum versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $696 in Jhelum versus $987 in Karachi.

Living in Jhelum costs roughly 33% 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

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.06 PKR 571

-16.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.43 PKR 2,891

$12.56 PKR 3,482

-16.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.61 PKR 1,000

$3.99 PKR 1,107

-9.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 PKR 799

$1.93 PKR 536

49.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 PKR 1,302

$5.27 PKR 1,461

-11.01%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 416

$1.81 PKR 502

-17.13%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.9

$0.33 PKR 92.6

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.9

$0.21 PKR 58.0

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.79 PKR 220

-22.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.58 PKR 161

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.18 PKR 328

9.32%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.15 PKR 320

3.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 PKR 1,429

$6.41 PKR 1,779

-19.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 PKR 678

$3.12 PKR 866

-21.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 847

$5.09 PKR 1,411

-40.08%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.03 PKR 286

-4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.60 PKR 166

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.92 PKR 256

-32.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.57 PKR 159

-10.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.35 PKR 98.1

8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.50 PKR 140

8.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.36 PKR 99.6

-44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.41 PKR 113

-41.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 263

$1.25 PKR 346

-24.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$1.32 PKR 367

-48.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 570

$2.06 PKR 572

-0.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.85 PKR 235

$2.16 PKR 598

-60.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.27

$0.33 PKR 92.6

-48.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.16 PKR 1,985

$6.43 PKR 1,783

11.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 302

$0.74 PKR 206

47.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.61 PKR 170

-19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 482

$1.74 PKR 483

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.94 PKR 261

3.19%

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

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

29.48%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-15.35%

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

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-61.16%

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

$2.79 PKR 774

$5.00 PKR 1,386

-44.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.93 PKR 3,587

$13.28 PKR 3,684

-2.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.36 PKR 3,429

$15.87 PKR 4,401

-22.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,635

$14.35 PKR 3,979

-58.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 PKR 956

$4.34 PKR 1,205

-20.51%

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

$17.80 PKR 4,936

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

-69.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,152 PKR 319.4K

$1,356 PKR 376.2K

-15.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.09 PKR 4,463

$17.71 PKR 4,912

-9.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,137

$25.79 PKR 7,153

-14.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-6.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.89 PKR 7,179

$35.84 PKR 9,940

-27.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 20.9K

$118 PKR 32.8K

-36.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

-31.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$319 PKR 88.5K

-48.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 28.9K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-42.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$899 PKR 249.4K

$932 PKR 258.4K

-3.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$543 PKR 150.5K

$433 PKR 120.2K

25.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.5 in Jhelum and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Jhelum vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $78.0 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 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $487 in Jhelum and $726 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: $75.5 in Jhelum versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 $13.00 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 49% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.