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 $450 in Bahawalnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Karachi versus $657 in Bahawalnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Karachi versus $865 in Bahawalnagar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 7% more expensive than in Bahawalnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Bahawalnagar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.10 PKR 583

-1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,373

$13.92 PKR 3,862

-12.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$4.32 PKR 1,199

-7.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

$2.76 PKR 765

-30.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

$3.61 PKR 1,001

47.65%

Cappuccino

$1.85 PKR 513

$2.27 PKR 630

-18.50%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.33 PKR 91.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.21 PKR 58.1

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.85 PKR 235

-1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.57 PKR 158

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.21 PKR 335

-7.44%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.18 PKR 326

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,744

$6.15 PKR 1,706

2.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 884

$2.34 PKR 649

35.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 PKR 1,396

$1.29 PKR 359

289.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.86 PKR 240

22.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.64 PKR 177

-7.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.56 PKR 156

64.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.48 PKR 133

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.35 PKR 98.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.49 PKR 135

-4.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.45 PKR 124

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.38 PKR 106

15.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.11 PKR 309

16.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.54 PKR 150

135.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

$0.85 PKR 236

141.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.90 PKR 527

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.20 PKR 54.1

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.42 PKR 1,782

$6.93 PKR 1,924

-7.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.68 PKR 187

1.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.50 PKR 138

32.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.72 PKR 479

0.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.93 PKR 259

-1.08%

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

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

$17.8K PKR 5.0M

-5.75%

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

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

8.05%

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

$133 PKR 36.8K

$141 PKR 39.2K

-6.06%

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

$4.86 PKR 1,349

$5.42 PKR 1,504

-10.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 PKR 3,779

$17.30 PKR 4,802

-21.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.31 PKR 4,250

$12.42 PKR 3,448

23.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 PKR 4,038

$6.09 PKR 1,691

138.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 PKR 1,142

$4.21 PKR 1,167

-2.38%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$34.65 PKR 9,616

65.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

12.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 PKR 4,847

$15.24 PKR 4,230

14.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 PKR 7,188

$22.48 PKR 6,239

15.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

$73.1 PKR 20.3K

-13.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

$30.04 PKR 8,338

21.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.0K

$76.1 PKR 21.1K

56.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

45.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.2K

$168 PKR 46.6K

89.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 PKR 51.3K

$105 PKR 29.0K

76.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$912 PKR 253.2K

$911 PKR 252.7K

0.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 PKR 122.5K

$463 PKR 128.4K

-4.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bahawalnagar: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Karachi and $76.1 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 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $675 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: $119 in Karachi versus $76.1 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 8% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $57.5 in Karachi versus $34.65 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 7% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.