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: $483 in Karachi versus $335 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Karachi versus $519 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Karachi versus $704 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Living in Karachi is roughly 44% more expensive than in Mandi Bahauddin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Mandi Bahauddin 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.75 PKR 487

17.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,373

$8.92 PKR 2,475

36.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.43 PKR 953

16.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

$2.87 PKR 797

-33.10%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

$4.79 PKR 1,330

11.27%

Cappuccino

$1.85 PKR 513

$1.04 PKR 289

77.88%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.33 PKR 91.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.22 PKR 60.7

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.70 PKR 194

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.40 PKR 112

45.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.26 PKR 350

-11.11%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.20 PKR 334

-2.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,744

$6.00 PKR 1,665

4.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 884

$2.70 PKR 748

17.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 PKR 1,396

$3.18 PKR 883

58.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.98 PKR 273

7.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.59 PKR 164

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.65 PKR 181

41.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.53 PKR 147

1.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.37 PKR 104

-5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.50 PKR 140

-6.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.63 PKR 175

-44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.42 PKR 117

4.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

$0.97 PKR 269

32.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.74 PKR 204

71.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

$2.02 PKR 562

1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.88 PKR 521

10.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.20 PKR 54.3

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.42 PKR 1,782

$7.17 PKR 1,990

-10.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$1.08 PKR 299

-36.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.53 PKR 147

24.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.81 PKR 502

-4.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.99 PKR 276

-7.07%

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

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-24.99%

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

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

17.59%

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

$133 PKR 36.8K

$58.7 PKR 16.3K

125.83%

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

$4.86 PKR 1,349

$3.82 PKR 1,061

27.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 PKR 3,779

$12.95 PKR 3,594

5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.31 PKR 4,250

$12.48 PKR 3,465

22.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 PKR 4,038

$6.08 PKR 1,687

139.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 PKR 1,142

$3.47 PKR 964

18.44%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$28.69 PKR 7,963

100.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

$1,142 PKR 316.9K

21.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 PKR 4,847

$16.05 PKR 4,455

8.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 PKR 7,188

$21.67 PKR 6,014

19.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

3.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

$26.36 PKR 7,316

38.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.0K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

58.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

46.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.2K

$166 PKR 46.0K

91.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 PKR 51.3K

$106 PKR 29.4K

74.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$912 PKR 253.2K

$915 PKR 253.9K

-0.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 PKR 122.5K

$500 PKR 138.8K

-11.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

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 26, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Karachi and $74.9 in Mandi Bahauddin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Mandi Bahauddin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $85.0 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 44% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $335 including rent). Mandi Bahauddin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $502 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: $119 in Karachi versus $74.9 in Mandi Bahauddin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $335 in Mandi Bahauddin – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mandi Bahauddin runs roughly 12% 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 44% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.