Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Bahawalpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Bahawalpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $304 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $515 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $726 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Karachi is roughly 50% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Bahawalpur 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 612

$1.76 PKR 488

25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,976

$7.23 PKR 2,004

98.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$4.43 PKR 1,229

18.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

$2.50 PKR 694

-14.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,041

$2.20 PKR 610

234.55%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.50 PKR 415

46.67%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.31 PKR 85.6

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.4

$0.19 PKR 53.0

21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.56 PKR 156

58.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.43 PKR 120

20.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.04 PKR 288

19.23%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.00 PKR 276

21.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,716

$8.77 PKR 2,434

-29.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.51 PKR 696

20.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,696

$4.08 PKR 1,133

49.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.04 PKR 290

17.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.56 PKR 155

-1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.58 PKR 160

68.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.48 PKR 133

22.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.31 PKR 86.6

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.3

$0.50 PKR 139

-38.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.50 PKR 138

-22.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.38 PKR 104

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$0.51 PKR 143

145.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.56 PKR 156

135.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$0.74 PKR 206

235.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.00 PKR 554

-10.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,275

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.10 PKR 306

-32.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$1.06 PKR 294

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.94 PKR 815

-25.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.14 PKR 317

16.67%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

-24.03%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

28.89%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

51.88%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,631

$4.44 PKR 1,230

32.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,567

$11.59 PKR 3,214

10.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,637

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,177

$10.99 PKR 3,049

69.79%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,222

$7.28 PKR 2,019

-39.56%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$23.81 PKR 6,605

111.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

$660 PKR 183.1K

108.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,109

$16.45 PKR 4,564

-9.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,076

$21.94 PKR 6,086

-0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

22.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,933

$29.16 PKR 8,089

22.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.3K

$257 PKR 71.4K

15.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$126 PKR 34.9K

43.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.9K

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

-71.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$760 PKR 211.0K

-38.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$136 PKR 37.6K

34.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

11.83

8.88%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Karachi pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $7.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $91.0 per month, with Bahawalpur 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

Karachi vs Bahawalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Karachi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 34% higher in Karachi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Karachi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $304 in Bahawalpur – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur 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.

Expats usually find Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.