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: $484 in Karachi versus $337 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $725 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Karachi is roughly 44% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.74 PKR 484

18.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$8.78 PKR 2,439

43.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$3.47 PKR 964

14.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.40 PKR 388

37.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$4.76 PKR 1,321

10.71%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.29 PKR 358

40.31%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.30 PKR 84.7

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.22 PKR 60.9

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.51 PKR 142

54.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.53 PKR 146

9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.23 PKR 341

-4.07%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.05 PKR 292

9.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$7.37 PKR 2,047

-13.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.57 PKR 714

21.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.25 PKR 903

56.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.99 PKR 275

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.55 PKR 153

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.26 PKR 72.8

253.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.53 PKR 148

7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.35 PKR 96.5

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.51 PKR 141

-1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.63 PKR 174

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.30 PKR 82.9

36.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.97 PKR 270

28.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.69 PKR 192

91.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$3.47 PKR 963

-40.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.84 PKR 511

17.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.20 PKR 56.4

65.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$1.80 PKR 499

257.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.08 PKR 301

-31.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.21 PKR 57.0

190.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.07 PKR 297

62.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.98 PKR 271

-4.08%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-21.71%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

20.22%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

133.51%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$3.89 PKR 1,080

28.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$12.75 PKR 3,541

4.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.44 PKR 3,454

27.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$8.09 PKR 2,247

77.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$2.18 PKR 605

99.08%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$26.76 PKR 7,431

119.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$681 PKR 189.1K

99.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$15.92 PKR 4,419

11.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$22.24 PKR 6,174

15.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

7.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$26.13 PKR 7,255

37.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$105 PKR 29.2K

12.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

39.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$234 PKR 65.0K

36.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$135 PKR 37.5K

34.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

-73.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$780 PKR 216.5K

-44.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$135 PKR 37.5K

31.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-1.11%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 31% 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: $13.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $84.0 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 44% 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 31% higher in Karachi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Karachi versus $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $337 in Bahawalpur – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 257% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 44% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.