Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $475 in Karachi versus $511 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $783 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $995 in Karachi versus $1,055 in Lahore.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 7% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 66% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 584

$2.56 PKR 708

-17.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.17 PKR 3,924

$14.52 PKR 4,022

-2.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,540

$5.64 PKR 1,563

-1.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 PKR 591

$3.61 PKR 1,001

-41.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 PKR 1,988

$5.50 PKR 1,524

30.55%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PKR 633

$2.66 PKR 738

-13.91%

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

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.42 PKR 117

-9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.24 PKR 65.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.91 PKR 252

-6.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.68 PKR 188

-16.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.22 PKR 338

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.22 PKR 338

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.08 PKR 1,684

$6.37 PKR 1,764

-4.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 PKR 870

$2.51 PKR 696

25.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 PKR 1,732

$4.80 PKR 1,331

30.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.16 PKR 322

5.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.65 PKR 181

-9.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.90 PKR 250

10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 154

$0.62 PKR 172

-9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.7

$0.30 PKR 83.5

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.5

$0.35 PKR 97.8

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.46 PKR 128

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.36 PKR 100

11.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 357

$1.06 PKR 295

21.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 PKR 367

$0.64 PKR 178

107.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 PKR 692

$1.73 PKR 478

44.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.13 PKR 590

-15.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 PKR 83.7

$0.17 PKR 46.22

76.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.95 PKR 2,201

$5.48 PKR 1,518

45.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.92 PKR 256

-23.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.74 PKR 205

-1.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 PKR 587

$1.83 PKR 508

15.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.28 PKR 354

4.69%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

1.46%

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

$27.2K PKR 7.5M

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

1.30%

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

$110 PKR 30.5K

$129 PKR 35.6K

-14.43%

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

$5.71 PKR 1,582

$5.08 PKR 1,408

12.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.12 PKR 3,634

$16.23 PKR 4,496

-19.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.28 PKR 5,896

$21.31 PKR 5,905

-0.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.76 PKR 5,198

$11.03 PKR 3,056

70.08%

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 PKR 1,164

$4.39 PKR 1,217

-4.33%

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

$50.3 PKR 13.9K

$45.79 PKR 12.7K

9.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,589 PKR 440.2K

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

-19.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.49 PKR 4,290

$17.31 PKR 4,795

-10.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.03 PKR 6,104

$26.36 PKR 7,302

-16.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.7 PKR 18.7K

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

-8.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.00 PKR 10.5K

$31.11 PKR 8,619

22.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.8K

$159 PKR 44.1K

-32.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.6 PKR 19.8K

$82.8 PKR 22.9K

-13.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.4K

$334 PKR 92.7K

-3.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 PKR 51.0K

$197 PKR 54.7K

-6.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,036 PKR 287.0K

$781 PKR 216.3K

32.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$470 PKR 130.2K

$597 PKR 165.3K

-21.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$190 PKR 52.7K

-4.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

14.28

-9.80%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $108 in Karachi and $159 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $15.00 in Lahore. Groceries flip the comparison at $101 vs $96.0, with Lahore 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 Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Lahore differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($475 vs $511 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Lahore. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $108 in Karachi versus $159 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $475 per month in Karachi versus $511 in Lahore – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 45% less than in Lahore. 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 8% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.