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: $476 in Karachi versus $440 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $732 in Karachi versus $657 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Karachi versus $874 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 8% 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

$2.11 PKR 587

$2.17 PKR 604

-2.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.18 PKR 3,396

$14.34 PKR 3,998

-15.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 PKR 1,174

$4.19 PKR 1,167

0.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 536

$2.75 PKR 766

-30.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 PKR 1,496

$3.63 PKR 1,011

47.93%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.34 PKR 652

-22.65%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.33 PKR 90.9

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.23 PKR 64.4

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 235

$0.86 PKR 239

-2.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 152

$0.61 PKR 169

-11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.21 PKR 338

-6.61%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.17 PKR 326

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,772

$6.05 PKR 1,688

5.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 887

$2.38 PKR 663

33.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 PKR 1,429

$1.27 PKR 354

303.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 292

$0.88 PKR 245

19.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.63 PKR 176

-7.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.61 PKR 171

54.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.44 PKR 122

27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 97.7

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.52 PKR 144

-9.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.45 PKR 124

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.38 PKR 106

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.41 PKR 392

$0.70 PKR 194

101.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PKR 363

$0.52 PKR 144

150.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 571

$0.88 PKR 245

132.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 PKR 608

$1.98 PKR 553

10.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.19 PKR 54.1

89.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.54 PKR 1,823

$7.01 PKR 1,954

-6.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.73 PKR 202

1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 174

$0.53 PKR 147

16.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$1.75 PKR 489

0.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.88 PKR 246

6.82%

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

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

-6.62%

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

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

9.21%

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

$137 PKR 38.3K

$139 PKR 38.7K

-1.05%

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

$4.99 PKR 1,390

$5.47 PKR 1,526

-8.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,787

$17.15 PKR 4,782

-20.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.81 PKR 4,408

$12.61 PKR 3,515

25.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.27 PKR 3,978

$5.95 PKR 1,657

139.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,195

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

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

$35.17 PKR 9,805

67.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 382.8K

$1,242 PKR 346.1K

10.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.85 PKR 4,976

$15.19 PKR 4,236

17.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.82 PKR 7,197

$22.65 PKR 6,314

14.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

$73.4 PKR 20.5K

-11.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

$30.67 PKR 8,549

18.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.6K

$76.6 PKR 21.4K

57.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

46.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 PKR 89.5K

$166 PKR 46.2K

93.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$104 PKR 29.1K

75.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.3K

$924 PKR 257.6K

-18.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.7K

$557 PKR 155.3K

-16.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 PKR 46.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $76.6 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 $97.0 vs $79.0, 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $661 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 $76.6 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 7% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $58.8 in Karachi versus $35.17 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 8% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.