Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mianwali Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mianwali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Karachi versus $449 in Mianwali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $657 in Mianwali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $865 in Mianwali.

Living in Karachi is roughly 6% more expensive than Mianwali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Mianwali 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.09 PKR 583

2.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$13.90 PKR 3,868

-10.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$4.25 PKR 1,182

-4.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.81 PKR 782

-29.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$3.73 PKR 1,037

39.95%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$2.29 PKR 638

-17.47%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.21 PKR 57.1

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.21 PKR 58.4

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.64 PKR 178

29.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.62 PKR 171

-6.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$0.90 PKR 249

25.56%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.21 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.03 PKR 1,677

4.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.92 PKR 812

9.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$4.58 PKR 1,274

7.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.01 PKR 281

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.63 PKR 176

-7.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.57 PKR 158

63.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.22 PKR 61.2

154.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.36 PKR 98.8

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.36 PKR 101

41.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.44 PKR 122

-13.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.38 PKR 107

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.93 PKR 259

37.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.54 PKR 151

133.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.07 PKR 298

94.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.98 PKR 552

5.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.20 PKR 55.1

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$7.16 PKR 1,991

-11.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.69 PKR 191

7.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.49 PKR 137

24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.72 PKR 479

4.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.90 PKR 249

2.22%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

-6.40%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

3.31%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$139 PKR 38.6K

-4.77%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.58 PKR 995

36.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$16.98 PKR 4,724

-19.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$12.33 PKR 3,429

26.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$6.05 PKR 1,684

136.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$4.37 PKR 1,215

-0.92%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$34.38 PKR 9,564

68.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,244 PKR 346.0K

12.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$15.32 PKR 4,261

15.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$22.60 PKR 6,286

12.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$72.3 PKR 20.1K

-11.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$30.15 PKR 8,388

18.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

59.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

41.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$169 PKR 47.1K

90.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$107 PKR 29.9K

69.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$860 PKR 239.2K

14.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$577 PKR 160.5K

-20.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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 Mianwali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $76.2 in Mianwali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Mianwali. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $88.0, with Mianwali 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 Mianwali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Mianwali differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $449 including rent). Mianwali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $715 in Karachi and $674 in Mianwali 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: $122 in Karachi versus $76.2 in Mianwali. 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 $449 in Mianwali – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mianwali runs roughly 13% 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 Mianwali 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 Mianwali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.