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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $457 per month in Karachi vs $393 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $728 per month in Karachi vs $614 in Faisalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $999 per month in Karachi vs $835 in Faisalabad, rent included.

Karachi costs about 16% more than Faisalabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karachi and Faisalabad are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 67% lower, Faisalabad 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 612

$1.82 PKR 506

20.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,976

$10.74 PKR 2,979

33.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$5.56 PKR 1,543

-5.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

$2.48 PKR 688

-13.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,041

$2.11 PKR 586

248.82%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.44 PKR 401

52.78%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.46 PKR 128

-28.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.4

$0.32 PKR 89.0

-28.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.84 PKR 234

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.62 PKR 172

-16.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.27 PKR 354

-2.36%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.18 PKR 329

2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,716

$8.77 PKR 2,434

-29.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.55 PKR 708

18.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,696

$4.02 PKR 1,116

51.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.09 PKR 303

11.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.66 PKR 183

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.55 PKR 152

78.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.47 PKR 130

25.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.31 PKR 87.3

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.3

$0.49 PKR 135

-36.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.50 PKR 138

-22.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.42 PKR 117

2.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$0.52 PKR 145

140.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.52 PKR 144

153.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$0.75 PKR 209

230.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.40 PKR 665

-25.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,275

$7.11 PKR 1,973

15.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.06 PKR 293

-30.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$1.06 PKR 293

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.86 PKR 793

-23.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.10 PKR 305

20.91%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

-23.05%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

20.92%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$68.4 PKR 19.0K

51.70%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,631

$7.91 PKR 2,195

-25.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,567

$11.74 PKR 3,258

9.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,637

$14.72 PKR 4,083

38.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,177

$18.27 PKR 5,070

2.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,222

$7.10 PKR 1,969

-38.03%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$26.47 PKR 7,344

90.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

$2,005 PKR 556.3K

-31.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,109

$19.03 PKR 5,279

-22.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,076

$26.14 PKR 7,252

-16.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

22.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,933

$29.22 PKR 8,107

22.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$107 PKR 29.8K

3.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

$58.1 PKR 16.1K

21.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.3K

$217 PKR 60.3K

36.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$123 PKR 34.1K

46.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.9K

$551 PKR 153.0K

77.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$249 PKR 69.2K

87.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$169 PKR 46.9K

7.65%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Faisalabad: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Karachi versus $107 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 8% higher in Karachi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Karachi versus $11.00 in Faisalabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $99.0 – 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 16% 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 $685 per month in Karachi and $590 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 2% 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 $14.00 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 $457 in Karachi and $393 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.