Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Dera Ghazi Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Dera Ghazi Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $476 in Karachi versus $419 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $630 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $841 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 13% more expensive than in Dera Ghazi Khan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Dera Ghazi Khan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.83 PKR 507

20.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,785

$10.92 PKR 3,026

25.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.46 PKR 1,513

1.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 595

$2.49 PKR 691

-13.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$2.15 PKR 597

242.33%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$1.45 PKR 401

53.79%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.46 PKR 128

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.30 PKR 82.3

-13.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.84 PKR 233

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.62 PKR 172

-11.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.26 PKR 350

-4.76%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.19 PKR 329

2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$8.77 PKR 2,430

-28.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$2.64 PKR 731

17.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,761

$4.00 PKR 1,107

59.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.09 PKR 302

16.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.62 PKR 171

-12.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$0.54 PKR 151

92.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.48 PKR 132

27.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.29 PKR 79.6

10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.52 PKR 145

-42.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.50 PKR 139

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.40 PKR 110

7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$0.52 PKR 144

146.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$0.52 PKR 144

165.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$0.75 PKR 209

221.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.32 PKR 642

-21.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.18 PKR 50.9

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$9.94 PKR 2,752

-18.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.10 PKR 303

-32.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$1.06 PKR 295

-30.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$2.92 PKR 809

-27.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$0.95 PKR 264

38.95%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$23.3K PKR 6.4M

-22.41%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

18.28%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$68.1 PKR 18.9K

59.81%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$5.66 PKR 1,569

3.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$14.51 PKR 4,020

-10.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,927

$15.18 PKR 4,206

40.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$7.09 PKR 1,964

-40.06%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$26.95 PKR 7,465

85.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$2,022 PKR 560.1K

-22.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$19.03 PKR 5,272

-17.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,218

$26.07 PKR 7,222

-13.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

28.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$29.24 PKR 8,100

32.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$140 PKR 38.8K

-20.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$86.4 PKR 23.9K

-15.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$222 PKR 61.5K

47.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$141 PKR 39.0K

28.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$905 PKR 250.6K

12.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

$517 PKR 143.2K

-6.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dera Ghazi Khan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $140 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Dera Ghazi Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $98.0 per month, with Dera Ghazi Khan 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 Dera Ghazi Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Dera Ghazi Khan differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $419 including rent). Dera Ghazi Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $629 in Dera Ghazi Khan 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 $140 in Dera Ghazi Khan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dera Ghazi Khan runs roughly 23% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $50.1 in Karachi versus $26.95 in Dera Ghazi Khan. 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 Dera Ghazi Khan 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 Dera Ghazi Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.