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: $477 in Karachi versus $492 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $746 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $1,001 in Lahore.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 3% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.09 PKR 582

2.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$14.24 PKR 3,961

-12.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$4.27 PKR 1,189

-4.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.78 PKR 774

-28.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$3.62 PKR 1,007

44.20%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$2.34 PKR 651

-19.23%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.36 PKR 99.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.23 PKR 64.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.89 PKR 247

-6.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.57 PKR 157

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.17 PKR 324

-3.42%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.20 PKR 335

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.11 PKR 1,700

2.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$3.05 PKR 849

4.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$4.44 PKR 1,234

10.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 283

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.60 PKR 166

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.60 PKR 168

55.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.48 PKR 133

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.32 PKR 90.2

21.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.48 PKR 133

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.44 PKR 123

-13.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.38 PKR 106

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.93 PKR 258

37.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.55 PKR 152

129.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.11 PKR 309

87.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.99 PKR 555

4.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.19 PKR 52.7

78.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$6.98 PKR 1,941

-9.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.70 PKR 194

5.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.49 PKR 138

24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.78 PKR 496

0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

-5.53%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

2.94%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-3.91%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$5.59 PKR 1,554

-12.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$17.01 PKR 4,733

-19.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$13.75 PKR 3,824

13.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$5.73 PKR 1,595

150.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-0.23%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$35.47 PKR 9,868

63.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

13.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$14.98 PKR 4,168

18.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$22.69 PKR 6,311

12.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

-11.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,975

$29.85 PKR 8,304

20.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$118 PKR 32.9K

2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

-3.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$286 PKR 79.6K

12.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$188 PKR 52.2K

-3.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$843 PKR 234.4K

16.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

$615 PKR 171.2K

-25.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$184 PKR 51.3K

-2.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

19.88

-10.46%

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

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $118 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 2% 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: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Lahore. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $93.0, 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 3% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $492 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Lahore earns 2% less. 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: $122 in Karachi versus $118 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $492 in Lahore – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 10% 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 3% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.