Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Jaranwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Jaranwala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $502 in Jaranwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $736 in Jaranwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $970 in Jaranwala.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 9% less than in Jaranwala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Jaranwala 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 612

$2.01 PKR 557

9.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,976

$15.95 PKR 4,424

-10.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$5.86 PKR 1,626

-10.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

$1.75 PKR 486

22.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,041

$3.41 PKR 945

115.84%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.95 PKR 541

12.82%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.43 PKR 120

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.4

$0.23 PKR 63.5

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.91 PKR 253

-2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.54 PKR 151

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.21 PKR 337

2.48%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.12 PKR 310

8.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,716

$6.05 PKR 1,679

2.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$3.49 PKR 969

-13.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,696

$5.10 PKR 1,415

19.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.16 PKR 321

5.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.86 PKR 238

-36.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.21 PKR 337

-19.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.57 PKR 159

3.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.36 PKR 99.4

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.3

$0.45 PKR 124

-31.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.34 PKR 93.0

14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.39 PKR 109

10.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.81 PKR 502

-30.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.14 PKR 316

15.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.33 PKR 645

6.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.99 PKR 553

-10.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.6

$0.17 PKR 46.49

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,275

$8.60 PKR 2,386

-4.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.87 PKR 241

-14.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.36 PKR 100

94.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.59 PKR 442

38.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.12 PKR 312

18.75%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

2.13%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$24.4K PKR 6.8M

13.03%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$113 PKR 31.4K

-8.35%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,631

$5.78 PKR 1,604

1.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,567

$18.82 PKR 5,221

-31.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,637

$14.40 PKR 3,996

41.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,177

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,222

$4.39 PKR 1,217

0.23%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$49.67 PKR 13.8K

1.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

$832 PKR 230.8K

65.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,109

$20.90 PKR 5,797

-29.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,076

$28.12 PKR 7,802

-22.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$91.9 PKR 25.5K

-28.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,933

$36.90 PKR 10.2K

-2.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$141 PKR 39.2K

-21.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

-1.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.3K

$280 PKR 77.7K

5.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$130 PKR 36.1K

38.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.9K

$913 PKR 253.3K

6.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$507 PKR 140.8K

-7.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

22.81

-43.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Jaranwala: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $141 in Jaranwala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $16.00 in Jaranwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $101 per month, with Karachi 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 Jaranwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Jaranwala differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $502 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $685 in Karachi and $753 in Jaranwala 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 $141 in Jaranwala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $502 in Jaranwala – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 5% less than in Jaranwala. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Jaranwala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.