Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Faisalabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Faisalabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $477 per month in Karachi vs $350 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $727 per month in Karachi vs $540 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $978 per month in Karachi vs $730 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Karachi costs about 36% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karachi and Faisalabad are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 64% lower, Faisalabad 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.74 PKR 483

22.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$10.75 PKR 2,990

15.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$3.56 PKR 990

14.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.82 PKR 784

-29.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$4.71 PKR 1,310

10.83%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.50 PKR 418

26.00%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.33 PKR 92.2

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.2

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.76 PKR 213

9.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.64 PKR 178

-9.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.27 PKR 353

-11.02%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.14 PKR 317

6.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$7.10 PKR 1,974

-11.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.64 PKR 734

20.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.14 PKR 872

56.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 284

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.55 PKR 153

5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.67 PKR 186

38.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.52 PKR 144

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.37 PKR 104

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.55 PKR 152

-7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.64 PKR 177

-40.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.40 PKR 111

7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.98 PKR 272

30.61%

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

$3.44 PKR 956

-39.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.85 PKR 514

12.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.17 PKR 45.99

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$3.47 PKR 964

82.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.09 PKR 302

-32.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.37 PKR 102

64.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.72 PKR 480

4.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.96 PKR 268

-4.17%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

-24.74%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

14.68%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$57.7 PKR 16.1K

129.13%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.75 PKR 1,042

30.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$12.96 PKR 3,604

5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$14.85 PKR 4,130

4.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$10.76 PKR 2,994

33.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$3.50 PKR 974

23.71%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$28.40 PKR 7,899

104.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,119 PKR 311.3K

25.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$15.94 PKR 4,435

11.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$22.28 PKR 6,198

14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

5.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,975

$25.64 PKR 7,134

39.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$70.6 PKR 19.6K

72.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$47.75 PKR 13.3K

54.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$150 PKR 41.7K

115.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$108 PKR 29.9K

69.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$537 PKR 149.4K

83.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

$256 PKR 71.3K

78.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$194 PKR 53.9K

-6.79%

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 Faisalabad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $122 in Karachi versus $70.6 in Faisalabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Faisalabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Karachi versus $11.00 in Faisalabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $91.0 – making Faisalabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Faisalabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi costs about 36% more than Faisalabad, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $715 per month in Karachi and $524 in Faisalabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Faisalabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Karachi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Karachi and $11.00 in Faisalabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $477 in Karachi and $350 in Faisalabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Faisalabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Faisalabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.