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: $484 in Karachi versus $410 in Jaranwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $632 in Jaranwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $854 in Jaranwala.

Living in Karachi is roughly 18% more expensive than in Jaranwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Jaranwala 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.73 PKR 480

19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$13.90 PKR 3,860

-9.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$5.28 PKR 1,465

-24.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.61 PKR 447

19.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$3.53 PKR 981

49.29%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.71 PKR 476

5.85%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.21 PKR 58.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.86 PKR 238

-8.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.57 PKR 157

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.31 PKR 363

-9.92%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.14 PKR 316

0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$6.21 PKR 1,726

3.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$3.26 PKR 904

-4.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$4.43 PKR 1,230

14.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.96 PKR 268

7.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.68 PKR 190

-11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.51 PKR 141

11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.33 PKR 92.4

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.52 PKR 144

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.26 PKR 72.7

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.40 PKR 110

2.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.44 PKR 401

-13.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.99 PKR 275

33.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.31 PKR 640

-10.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.97 PKR 547

9.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.19 PKR 53.0

73.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$6.87 PKR 1,908

-6.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.86 PKR 239

-13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.40 PKR 111

52.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$3.02 PKR 839

-42.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.96 PKR 266

-2.08%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

-6.22%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

11.68%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$101 PKR 27.9K

33.63%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$4.03 PKR 1,120

24.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$16.28 PKR 4,521

-18.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.59 PKR 3,496

26.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$5.90 PKR 1,637

143.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.61 PKR 1,004

20.22%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$40.32 PKR 11.2K

45.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$964 PKR 267.8K

40.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$11.51 PKR 3,197

53.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$18.69 PKR 5,189

37.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-28.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$29.10 PKR 8,081

23.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

55.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$52.0 PKR 14.4K

43.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$164 PKR 45.6K

94.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$104 PKR 28.9K

74.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$920 PKR 255.5K

1.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$553 PKR 153.6K

-21.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

20.17

-11.75%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jaranwala: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $75.9 in Jaranwala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Jaranwala. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $95.0, with Jaranwala cheaper for home cooking.

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 18% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $410 including rent). Jaranwala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $726 in Karachi and $615 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: $118 in Karachi versus $75.9 in Jaranwala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $410 in Jaranwala – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jaranwala runs roughly 7% less than in Karachi. 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 Jaranwala 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 Jaranwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.