Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Jhelum Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Jhelum

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $392 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $596 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $800 in Jhelum.

Living in Karachi is roughly 17% more expensive than in Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Jhelum 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$1.79 PKR 495

22.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,973

$10.81 PKR 2,995

32.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.27 PKR 1,460

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$2.54 PKR 704

-15.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$2.22 PKR 615

231.53%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.52 PKR 421

44.74%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.43 PKR 119

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.30 PKR 81.8

-23.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.64 PKR 177

39.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.61 PKR 168

-14.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.23 PKR 340

0.81%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.22 PKR 339

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$2.57 PKR 713

140.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.32 PKR 643

30.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$2.72 PKR 754

124.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.09 PKR 302

11.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.35 PKR 96.6

57.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.54 PKR 150

81.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.47 PKR 129

25.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.1

$0.31 PKR 86.9

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.35 PKR 95.7

-11.43%

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 346

$1.82 PKR 506

-31.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.55 PKR 154

140.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.72 PKR 753

-8.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.33 PKR 645

-23.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.17 PKR 46.47

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,273

$8.75 PKR 2,424

-6.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.10 PKR 304

-32.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.05 PKR 291

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.82 PKR 781

-21.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.12 PKR 309

18.75%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-21.85%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

20.66%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

55.31%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,629

$5.54 PKR 1,536

6.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,564

$14.61 PKR 4,049

-11.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,632

$12.94 PKR 3,586

57.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,173

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$7.25 PKR 2,008

-39.31%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$26.69 PKR 7,397

88.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

$2,005 PKR 555.6K

-31.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,106

$18.80 PKR 5,210

-21.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,070

$26.60 PKR 7,373

-17.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$54.3 PKR 15.0K

20.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,925

$30.28 PKR 8,392

18.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$116 PKR 32.3K

-4.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$79.7 PKR 22.1K

-11.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$243 PKR 67.3K

22.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$152 PKR 42.1K

18.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.6K

$991 PKR 274.5K

-1.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.5K

$534 PKR 148.1K

-12.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

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 Jhelum: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $116 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $70.0 per month, with Jhelum 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 Jhelum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $685 in Karachi and $587 in Jhelum 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 $116 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Karachi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Karachi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Jhelum 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.

Safety-wise, Karachi and Jhelum are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.