Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Bahawalnagar Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Bahawalnagar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $441 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $723 in Karachi versus $645 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $963 in Karachi versus $850 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 10% more expensive than Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Bahawalnagar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 PKR 598

$2.11 PKR 586

1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,457

$13.89 PKR 3,862

-10.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 PKR 1,167

$4.32 PKR 1,202

-2.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 556

$2.82 PKR 783

-29.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.80 PKR 1,057

43.16%

Cappuccino

$1.83 PKR 508

$2.35 PKR 654

-22.13%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.4

$0.36 PKR 98.9

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.21 PKR 58.2

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.82 PKR 228

-1.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.57 PKR 159

-3.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.17 PKR 324

-2.56%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.17 PKR 326

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 PKR 1,847

$5.92 PKR 1,645

12.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 PKR 912

$2.44 PKR 677

34.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 PKR 1,440

$1.28 PKR 355

304.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.87 PKR 243

18.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.59 PKR 164

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.58 PKR 161

51.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.48 PKR 134

8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.32 PKR 90.0

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.52 PKR 145

-9.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.48 PKR 132

-20.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.35 PKR 98.5

14.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.30 PKR 360

$0.87 PKR 243

49.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 354

$0.54 PKR 150

135.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 PKR 596

$0.86 PKR 239

148.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.96 PKR 546

5.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.16 PKR 44.39

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.49 PKR 1,803

$7.18 PKR 1,995

-9.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.70 PKR 193

5.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.49 PKR 137

36.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 495

$1.79 PKR 499

-0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.93 PKR 259

-6.45%

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

$16.5K PKR 4.6M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

-6.27%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

4.45%

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

$135 PKR 37.6K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-1.93%

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

$4.93 PKR 1,371

$5.49 PKR 1,528

-10.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 PKR 3,713

$17.02 PKR 4,733

-21.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.63 PKR 4,345

$12.35 PKR 3,432

26.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.40 PKR 4,003

$5.92 PKR 1,645

143.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$4.29 PKR 1,193

1.40%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$34.81 PKR 9,678

66.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,354 PKR 376.4K

$1,209 PKR 336.2K

11.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.69 PKR 4,918

$15.30 PKR 4,254

15.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 PKR 6,968

$23.19 PKR 6,448

8.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

-12.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.14 PKR 10.0K

$29.67 PKR 8,250

21.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.5K

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

58.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

47.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.5K

$165 PKR 45.8K

93.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 PKR 49.8K

$107 PKR 29.9K

66.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$998 PKR 277.5K

$848 PKR 235.8K

17.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.9K

$538 PKR 149.7K

-13.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

19.88

-10.46%

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

Last update for Karachi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $75.8 in Bahawalnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Bahawalnagar. Groceries flip the comparison at $98.0 vs $78.0, with Bahawalnagar cheaper for home cooking.

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

Karachi vs Bahawalnagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $662 in Bahawalnagar 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: $120 in Karachi versus $75.8 in Bahawalnagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalnagar runs roughly 11% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $58.0 in Karachi versus $34.81 in Bahawalnagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bahawalnagar 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, Karachi and Bahawalnagar 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 Bahawalnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.