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: $392 in Jhelum versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $596 in Jhelum versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $800 in Jhelum versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Jhelum costs roughly 14% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jhelum 72% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 495

$2.20 PKR 611

-18.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.81 PKR 2,995

$14.33 PKR 3,973

-24.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$5.27 PKR 1,462

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 PKR 704

$2.14 PKR 593

18.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PKR 615

$7.36 PKR 2,039

-69.84%

Cappuccino

$1.52 PKR 421

$2.20 PKR 610

-30.91%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 PKR 92.3

30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 81.8

$0.23 PKR 63.3

30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 177

$0.89 PKR 248

-28.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.52 PKR 145

17.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.24 PKR 345

-0.81%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.21 PKR 335

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 713

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-58.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.32 PKR 643

$3.03 PKR 841

-23.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.72 PKR 754

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-55.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 302

$1.22 PKR 339

-10.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.6

$0.55 PKR 153

-36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.98 PKR 272

-44.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.59 PKR 164

-20.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.9

$0.34 PKR 95.1

-8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.7

$0.31 PKR 85.2

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.39 PKR 109

28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.43 PKR 121

-2.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.25 PKR 346

45.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.32 PKR 365

-58.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PKR 753

$2.48 PKR 687

9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 PKR 645

$1.79 PKR 496

30.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.47

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.75 PKR 2,424

$8.20 PKR 2,273

6.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$0.74 PKR 205

48.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.70 PKR 194

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 PKR 781

$2.20 PKR 609

28.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.33 PKR 369

-15.79%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

27.96%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-17.13%

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

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-35.61%

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

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.88 PKR 1,629

-5.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.61 PKR 4,049

$12.86 PKR 3,564

13.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.94 PKR 3,586

$20.32 PKR 5,632

-36.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,173

Cinema Ticket

$7.25 PKR 2,008

$4.40 PKR 1,221

64.77%

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

$26.69 PKR 7,397

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-47.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,005 PKR 555.6K

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

45.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.80 PKR 5,210

$14.81 PKR 4,106

26.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.60 PKR 7,373

$21.90 PKR 6,070

21.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 PKR 15.0K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

-16.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.28 PKR 8,392

$35.81 PKR 9,925

-15.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.3K

$111 PKR 30.8K

4.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.7 PKR 22.1K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

12.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 PKR 67.3K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-18.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 PKR 42.1K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-15.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$991 PKR 274.5K

$976 PKR 270.6K

1.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 PKR 148.1K

$467 PKR 129.5K

14.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

12.88

-8.15%

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

Last update for Jhelum: September 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Jhelum and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Jhelum vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $70.0 vs $101 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. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $587 in Jhelum and $685 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: $116 in Jhelum versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% 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 $11.00 versus $14.00 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 17% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.