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 $334 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $723 in Karachi versus $524 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $963 in Karachi versus $715 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Living in Karachi is roughly 45% 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

$2.15 PKR 598

$1.79 PKR 497

20.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,457

$8.63 PKR 2,399

44.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 PKR 1,167

$3.51 PKR 975

19.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 556

$2.79 PKR 776

-28.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.90 PKR 1,363

11.02%

Cappuccino

$1.83 PKR 508

$1.03 PKR 287

77.67%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.4

$0.31 PKR 86.0

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.0

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.73 PKR 202

10.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.43 PKR 121

27.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.31 PKR 365

-12.98%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 322

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 PKR 1,847

$6.09 PKR 1,693

9.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 PKR 912

$2.58 PKR 716

27.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 PKR 1,440

$3.18 PKR 884

62.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.04 PKR 288

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.58 PKR 162

1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.65 PKR 182

35.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.57 PKR 157

-8.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.35 PKR 96.2

2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.51 PKR 142

-7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.63 PKR 176

-39.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.40 PKR 110

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.30 PKR 360

$0.94 PKR 262

38.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 354

$0.73 PKR 204

73.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 PKR 596

$2.04 PKR 566

4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.89 PKR 525

8.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.19 PKR 52.4

89.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.49 PKR 1,803

$6.91 PKR 1,922

-6.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$1.04 PKR 289

-28.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.49 PKR 137

36.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 495

$1.81 PKR 503

-1.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.99 PKR 276

-12.12%

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

$16.5K PKR 4.6M

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

-24.12%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

17.58%

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

$135 PKR 37.6K

$58.5 PKR 16.3K

130.93%

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

$4.93 PKR 1,371

$3.86 PKR 1,074

27.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 PKR 3,713

$13.08 PKR 3,636

2.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.63 PKR 4,345

$12.43 PKR 3,457

25.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.40 PKR 4,003

$6.08 PKR 1,691

136.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$3.60 PKR 1,000

20.83%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$28.03 PKR 7,794

106.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,354 PKR 376.4K

$1,143 PKR 317.8K

18.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.69 PKR 4,918

$16.32 PKR 4,537

8.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 PKR 6,968

$22.18 PKR 6,167

12.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

$59.1 PKR 16.4K

9.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.14 PKR 10.0K

$26.09 PKR 7,254

38.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.5K

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

62.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$51.9 PKR 14.4K

45.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.5K

$167 PKR 46.4K

90.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 PKR 49.8K

$108 PKR 30.0K

66.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$998 PKR 277.5K

$923 PKR 256.7K

8.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.9K

$496 PKR 138.0K

-6.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.5K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mandi Bahauddin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $73.9 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 $98.0 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 45% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $334 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 $501 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 $73.9 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 $334 in Mandi Bahauddin – a 45% 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 45% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.