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: $484 in Karachi versus $324 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $510 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $696 in Jhelum.

Living in Karachi is roughly 49% more expensive than in Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.73 PKR 481

19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$10.43 PKR 2,895

20.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$3.61 PKR 1,001

10.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$2.88 PKR 800

-32.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$4.69 PKR 1,303

12.37%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.50 PKR 417

20.67%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.31 PKR 86.0

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.61 PKR 170

29.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.59 PKR 164

-1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.29 PKR 359

-8.53%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.19 PKR 331

-3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$5.15 PKR 1,431

24.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.44 PKR 679

27.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.05 PKR 848

66.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.98 PKR 272

5.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.58 PKR 162

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.62 PKR 172

48.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.51 PKR 141

11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.38 PKR 104

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.54 PKR 150

-7.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.20 PKR 54.4

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.24 PKR 66.8

70.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.95 PKR 263

31.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.68 PKR 189

94.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$2.05 PKR 570

0.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$0.85 PKR 235

154.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.17 PKR 46.33

94.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.16 PKR 1,988

-10.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.09 PKR 302

-32.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.49 PKR 135

24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.74 PKR 482

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.97 PKR 270

-3.09%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

-22.77%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

18.13%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

157.44%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$2.79 PKR 775

79.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$12.93 PKR 3,591

2.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.36 PKR 3,433

28.40%

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

$3.45 PKR 958

25.80%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$17.80 PKR 4,942

230.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,152 PKR 319.8K

17.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$16.09 PKR 4,469

10.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$22.13 PKR 6,145

16.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

6.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$25.89 PKR 7,189

38.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

56.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

45.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$165 PKR 45.8K

93.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$104 PKR 28.9K

73.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$899 PKR 249.7K

3.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$543 PKR 150.7K

-20.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $75.5 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $10.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $78.0 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 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $726 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: $118 in Karachi versus $75.5 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 $13.00 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 49% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.