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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Karachi vs $349 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $735 per month in Karachi vs $548 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $987 per month in Karachi vs $746 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Karachi costs about 38% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.78 PKR 495

15.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$10.58 PKR 2,937

18.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$3.45 PKR 958

15.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$2.77 PKR 769

-30.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$4.69 PKR 1,303

12.37%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.46 PKR 406

23.97%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.33 PKR 92.2

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.71 PKR 197

11.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.63 PKR 176

-7.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.26 PKR 349

-6.35%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.14 PKR 316

0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$7.18 PKR 1,993

-10.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.64 PKR 733

18.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.27 PKR 908

55.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.03 PKR 285

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.55 PKR 152

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.62 PKR 173

48.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.53 PKR 146

7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.35 PKR 95.8

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.51 PKR 142

-1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.58 PKR 161

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.43 PKR 118

-4.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.03 PKR 286

21.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.72 PKR 201

83.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$3.49 PKR 970

-40.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.90 PKR 529

13.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.21 PKR 57.3

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$3.52 PKR 978

82.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.04 PKR 288

-28.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.36 PKR 101

69.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.80 PKR 500

-3.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.97 PKR 269

-3.09%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

-23.76%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

20.61%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

127.19%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$3.76 PKR 1,045

32.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$12.89 PKR 3,579

3.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$15.16 PKR 4,209

4.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$10.77 PKR 2,991

33.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.47 PKR 964

25.07%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$28.39 PKR 7,884

107.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,144 PKR 317.6K

18.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$16.26 PKR 4,516

8.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$21.92 PKR 6,087

17.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

7.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$25.61 PKR 7,113

39.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$71.6 PKR 19.9K

65.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$47.84 PKR 13.3K

56.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$146 PKR 40.6K

118.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$106 PKR 29.5K

70.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$535 PKR 148.6K

74.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$250 PKR 69.6K

72.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$190 PKR 52.6K

-6.65%

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 Faisalabad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Karachi versus $71.6 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 $13.00 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 38% more than Faisalabad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $726 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 $13.00 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 $484 in Karachi and $349 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.