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: $476 in Karachi versus $332 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $732 in Karachi versus $512 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Karachi versus $692 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Living in Karachi is roughly 43% more expensive than 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

$2.11 PKR 587

$1.78 PKR 496

18.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.18 PKR 3,396

$8.58 PKR 2,393

41.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 PKR 1,174

$3.52 PKR 982

19.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 536

$2.77 PKR 772

-30.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 PKR 1,496

$4.81 PKR 1,340

11.64%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.08 PKR 300

67.59%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.33 PKR 93.3

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 235

$0.74 PKR 207

13.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 152

$0.40 PKR 112

35.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.31 PKR 365

-13.74%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.19 PKR 333

-2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,772

$6.13 PKR 1,708

3.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 887

$2.66 PKR 742

19.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 PKR 1,429

$3.22 PKR 897

59.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.03 PKR 287

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.55 PKR 153

5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.62 PKR 173

51.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.34 PKR 96.1

14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.51 PKR 143

-7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.59 PKR 164

-38.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.40 PKR 111

7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.41 PKR 392

$1.42 PKR 396

-0.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PKR 363

$0.72 PKR 201

80.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 571

$1.98 PKR 552

3.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 PKR 608

$1.89 PKR 528

15.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.20 PKR 55.7

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.54 PKR 1,823

$6.90 PKR 1,922

-5.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.04 PKR 290

-28.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 174

$0.49 PKR 135

26.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$1.76 PKR 489

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.96 PKR 269

-2.08%

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

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-26.83%

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

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

17.29%

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

$137 PKR 38.3K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

138.91%

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

$4.99 PKR 1,390

$3.88 PKR 1,080

28.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,787

$12.68 PKR 3,536

7.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.81 PKR 4,408

$12.29 PKR 3,425

28.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.27 PKR 3,978

$6.07 PKR 1,692

135.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,195

$3.50 PKR 977

22.57%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

$28.27 PKR 7,880

107.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 382.8K

$1,140 PKR 317.7K

20.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.85 PKR 4,976

$16.53 PKR 4,607

7.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.82 PKR 7,197

$21.66 PKR 6,038

19.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

$60.0 PKR 16.7K

8.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

$25.71 PKR 7,167

41.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.6K

$76.1 PKR 21.2K

58.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

45.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 PKR 89.5K

$165 PKR 46.1K

94.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$107 PKR 29.8K

70.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.3K

$893 PKR 248.9K

-15.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.7K

$524 PKR 146.0K

-11.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 PKR 46.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $76.1 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 $86.0 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 43% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $332 including rent). Mandi Bahauddin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $498 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: $120 in Karachi versus $76.1 in Mandi Bahauddin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $476 per month in Karachi versus $332 in Mandi Bahauddin – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mandi Bahauddin runs roughly 6% 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 43% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.