Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mandi Bahauddin Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mandi Bahauddin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $475 in Karachi versus $410 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $609 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $995 in Karachi versus $808 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Living in Karachi is roughly 16% more expensive than in Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 66% lower, Mandi Bahauddin 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 584

$1.81 PKR 502

16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.17 PKR 3,924

$8.98 PKR 2,489

57.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,540

$4.30 PKR 1,192

29.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 PKR 591

$2.48 PKR 687

-14.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 PKR 1,988

$2.21 PKR 611

224.89%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PKR 633

$1.05 PKR 291

118.10%

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

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.41 PKR 114

-7.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.24 PKR 66.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.70 PKR 195

21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.41 PKR 113

39.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.21 PKR 336

0.83%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.20 PKR 332

1.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.08 PKR 1,684

$8.81 PKR 2,440

-30.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 PKR 870

$2.60 PKR 721

20.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 PKR 1,732

$3.88 PKR 1,076

61.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.09 PKR 302

11.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.66 PKR 182

-10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.57 PKR 159

73.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 154

$0.48 PKR 133

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.7

$0.31 PKR 86.8

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.5

$0.49 PKR 135

-32.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.50 PKR 138

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.40 PKR 110

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 357

$0.52 PKR 144

148.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 PKR 367

$0.56 PKR 155

137.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 PKR 692

$0.69 PKR 191

262.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.39 PKR 663

-25.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 PKR 83.7

$0.20 PKR 55.0

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.95 PKR 2,201

$10.12 PKR 2,803

-21.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 195

$1.05 PKR 291

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 203

$1.09 PKR 302

-33.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 PKR 587

$2.88 PKR 797

-26.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.10 PKR 305

21.82%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.9K PKR 6.6M

-24.61%

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

$27.2K PKR 7.5M

$22.9K PKR 6.3M

19.08%

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

$110 PKR 30.5K

$67.8 PKR 18.8K

62.28%

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

$5.71 PKR 1,582

$5.45 PKR 1,509

4.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.12 PKR 3,634

$14.55 PKR 4,031

-9.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.28 PKR 5,896

$14.84 PKR 4,112

43.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.76 PKR 5,198

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 PKR 1,164

$7.01 PKR 1,941

-40.09%

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

$50.3 PKR 13.9K

$26.27 PKR 7,278

91.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,589 PKR 440.2K

$2,051 PKR 568.1K

-22.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.49 PKR 4,290

$18.61 PKR 5,156

-16.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.03 PKR 6,104

$26.02 PKR 7,209

-15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.7 PKR 18.7K

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

24.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.00 PKR 10.5K

$30.01 PKR 8,313

26.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.8K

$127 PKR 35.3K

-15.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.6 PKR 19.8K

$77.7 PKR 21.5K

-7.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.4K

$257 PKR 71.1K

25.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 PKR 51.0K

$147 PKR 40.6K

25.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,036 PKR 287.0K

$906 PKR 251.0K

14.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$470 PKR 130.2K

$512 PKR 142.0K

-8.31%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $108 in Karachi and $127 in Mandi Bahauddin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $95.0 per month, with Mandi Bahauddin 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 Mandi Bahauddin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Mandi Bahauddin differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($475 vs $410 including rent). Mandi Bahauddin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $713 in Karachi and $615 in Mandi Bahauddin 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: $108 in Karachi versus $127 in Mandi Bahauddin. 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 $410 in Mandi Bahauddin – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mandi Bahauddin runs roughly 27% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mandi Bahauddin 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 Mandi Bahauddin 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 Mandi Bahauddin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.