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: $477 in Karachi versus $338 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $724 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Karachi is roughly 41% more expensive than Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.79 PKR 498

19.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$8.97 PKR 2,495

38.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$3.45 PKR 959

17.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.44 PKR 401

38.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$4.67 PKR 1,299

11.78%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.29 PKR 359

46.51%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.31 PKR 84.9

16.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.49 PKR 135

69.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.57 PKR 159

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.30 PKR 360

-13.08%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.03 PKR 285

17.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$7.35 PKR 2,044

-14.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.67 PKR 743

19.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.27 PKR 909

50.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.98 PKR 274

5.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.54 PKR 149

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.26 PKR 72.7

257.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.54 PKR 149

3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.37 PKR 104

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.63 PKR 175

-39.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.32 PKR 89.5

34.37%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.94 PKR 263

36.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.68 PKR 189

85.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$3.51 PKR 976

-40.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.87 PKR 521

11.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.20 PKR 55.8

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$1.81 PKR 503

249.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.09 PKR 303

-32.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.18 PKR 49.67

238.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.03 PKR 287

73.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.98 PKR 272

-6.12%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-23.41%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

15.52%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

129.37%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.87 PKR 1,077

26.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$12.79 PKR 3,559

6.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$12.33 PKR 3,430

26.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$7.85 PKR 2,183

82.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$2.11 PKR 586

105.21%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$26.12 PKR 7,266

121.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$660 PKR 183.6K

112.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$15.94 PKR 4,433

11.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$22.13 PKR 6,157

15.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

5.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$26.44 PKR 7,357

35.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$106 PKR 29.6K

14.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

36.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$225 PKR 62.7K

43.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$135 PKR 37.4K

35.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

-72.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$760 PKR 211.5K

-39.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$137 PKR 38.1K

31.77%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 32% 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: $12.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $85.0 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 41% 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.

Karachi pays 32% more on average, 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: $122 in Karachi versus $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $338 in Bahawalpur – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 250% 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 41% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.