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 $503 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $741 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $979 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 5% less than in Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Bahawalnagar 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.54 PKR 704

-13.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,784

$14.30 PKR 3,961

-4.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.66 PKR 1,567

-2.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 594

$3.69 PKR 1,023

-41.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,038

$5.27 PKR 1,461

39.66%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$2.57 PKR 711

-13.23%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.2

$0.39 PKR 108

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.26 PKR 72.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.88 PKR 245

-3.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.68 PKR 189

-19.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.21 PKR 334

-0.83%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.17 PKR 323

4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$6.40 PKR 1,772

-2.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$2.48 PKR 686

25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,760

$4.92 PKR 1,362

29.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.22 PKR 339

4.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.64 PKR 178

-15.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$0.92 PKR 254

13.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.62 PKR 171

-1.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.28 PKR 77.1

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.33 PKR 90.1

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.47 PKR 129

-14.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.33 PKR 92.5

30.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.09 PKR 303

17.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$0.64 PKR 178

115.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$1.66 PKR 461

45.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.12 PKR 588

-14.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.19 PKR 51.8

47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$10.47 PKR 2,900

-22.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.93 PKR 258

-20.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.69 PKR 191

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$1.81 PKR 503

16.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.33 PKR 369

-0.75%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

-0.29%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

2.11%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$128 PKR 35.6K

-15.26%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$5.13 PKR 1,422

13.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$16.41 PKR 4,546

-21.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,926

$16.30 PKR 4,514

31.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,213

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.34 PKR 1,203

-2.07%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$46.41 PKR 12.9K

7.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$2,005 PKR 555.5K

-21.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$17.76 PKR 4,918

-11.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,217

$27.19 PKR 7,531

-17.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$74.4 PKR 20.6K

-7.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$31.60 PKR 8,752

22.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$121 PKR 33.4K

-7.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$76.2 PKR 21.1K

-4.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$267 PKR 73.9K

22.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$149 PKR 41.2K

21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$966 PKR 267.7K

5.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.1K

$463 PKR 128.3K

4.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

14.28

-9.80%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $121 in Bahawalnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Bahawalnagar. Groceries flip the comparison at $102 vs $96.0, 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

Karachi is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $754 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: $111 in Karachi versus $121 in Bahawalnagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 30% less than in Bahawalnagar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $50.1 in Karachi versus $46.41 in Bahawalnagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Bahawalnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.