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: $477 in Karachi versus $325 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $512 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $700 in Jhelum.

Living in Karachi is roughly 47% more expensive than Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Jhelum 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.78 PKR 496

20.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$10.47 PKR 2,911

18.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$3.58 PKR 996

13.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.90 PKR 806

-31.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$4.90 PKR 1,363

6.53%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.51 PKR 419

25.17%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.33 PKR 91.9

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.56 PKR 156

48.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.59 PKR 165

-1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.26 PKR 351

-10.32%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.15 PKR 320

5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$5.06 PKR 1,408

24.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.38 PKR 662

34.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.07 PKR 854

59.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.54 PKR 151

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.63 PKR 175

47.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.51 PKR 142

9.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 96.9

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.55 PKR 154

-7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.19 PKR 51.5

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.22 PKR 61.2

95.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.01 PKR 282

26.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.73 PKR 204

72.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.98 PKR 550

5.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$0.84 PKR 235

147.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.18 PKR 51.0

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$6.92 PKR 1,924

-8.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.07 PKR 299

-30.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.53 PKR 148

15.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.97 PKR 269

-5.15%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-26.19%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

17.50%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

150.00%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$2.87 PKR 799

70.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$13.02 PKR 3,623

4.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$12.58 PKR 3,500

23.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$5.85 PKR 1,628

144.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$3.44 PKR 957

25.87%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$17.79 PKR 4,950

225.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,111 PKR 309.1K

26.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$16.17 PKR 4,498

9.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$22.32 PKR 6,210

14.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

7.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,975

$26.22 PKR 7,294

36.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$74.5 PKR 20.7K

63.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

41.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$164 PKR 45.5K

97.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$108 PKR 29.9K

69.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$851 PKR 236.6K

15.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

$454 PKR 126.3K

0.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $74.5 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $10.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $76.0 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $715 in Karachi and $487 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: $122 in Karachi versus $74.5 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% 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 $10.00 versus $12.00 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 47% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.