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: $457 in Karachi versus $421 in Mianwali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $613 in Mianwali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $805 in Mianwali.

Living in Karachi is roughly 9% more expensive than in Mianwali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Mianwali 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$2.58 PKR 716

-14.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,974

$8.03 PKR 2,228

78.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.72 PKR 1,586

-7.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$3.62 PKR 1,004

-40.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,040

$5.39 PKR 1,495

36.55%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.09 PKR 304

101.83%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.26 PKR 72.2

26.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.19 PKR 52.7

21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.66 PKR 183

34.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.52 PKR 143

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.12 PKR 312

10.71%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.22 PKR 339

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$6.42 PKR 1,780

-3.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$1.42 PKR 395

113.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$3.67 PKR 1,017

66.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.16 PKR 320

5.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.67 PKR 186

-17.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.69 PKR 192

42.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.45 PKR 126

31.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.30 PKR 84.1

13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.32 PKR 90.1

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.48 PKR 134

-18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.36 PKR 100

19.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.10 PKR 304

13.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.62 PKR 171

112.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$1.65 PKR 457

50.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.07 PKR 296

67.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.18 PKR 48.52

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,274

$9.28 PKR 2,572

-11.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.75 PKR 209

-1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.35 PKR 96.6

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.64 PKR 456

34.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.09 PKR 301

22.02%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

1.63%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$26.8K PKR 7.4M

3.06%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$109 PKR 30.2K

-4.61%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,630

$3.29 PKR 913

78.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$16.15 PKR 4,478

-20.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,633

$7.87 PKR 2,182

158.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

$5.50 PKR 1,526

239.27%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.22 PKR 1,170

4.27%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$44.93 PKR 12.5K

12.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

$2,043 PKR 566.4K

-32.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,107

$13.26 PKR 3,675

11.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,072

$14.24 PKR 3,949

53.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$73.6 PKR 20.4K

-11.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,927

$8.77 PKR 2,432

308.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$125 PKR 34.6K

-10.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$70.0 PKR 19.4K

1.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$234 PKR 65.0K

26.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$139 PKR 38.5K

29.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.7K

$844 PKR 234.0K

15.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$478 PKR 132.6K

-2.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

14.22

-9.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mianwali: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $125 in Mianwali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $8.00 in Mianwali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $81.0 per month, with Mianwali 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 Mianwali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Mianwali differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $421 including rent). Mianwali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $685 in Karachi and $631 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: $111 in Karachi versus $125 in Mianwali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $421 in Mianwali – a 9% 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 9% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.