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: $484 in Karachi versus $456 in Mianwali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $665 in Mianwali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $874 in Mianwali.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.11 PKR 585

-2.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$14.07 PKR 3,906

-10.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$4.28 PKR 1,189

-6.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$2.87 PKR 798

-32.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$3.75 PKR 1,041

40.53%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.35 PKR 652

-22.98%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.20 PKR 54.6

65.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.21 PKR 58.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.67 PKR 185

17.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.57 PKR 158

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$0.90 PKR 249

31.11%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.17 PKR 326

-1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$6.11 PKR 1,696

4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.92 PKR 811

6.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$4.42 PKR 1,227

15.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.02 PKR 282

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.60 PKR 168

53.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.22 PKR 61.2

159.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.35 PKR 97.6

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.36 PKR 101

38.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.45 PKR 125

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.38 PKR 106

7.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.05 PKR 291

19.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.51 PKR 142

158.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.11 PKR 308

85.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.89 PKR 525

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.16 PKR 44.36

106.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.15 PKR 1,986

-10.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.73 PKR 203

1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.53 PKR 148

15.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.82 PKR 504

-4.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.91 PKR 252

3.30%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

-3.84%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

8.82%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$141 PKR 39.1K

-4.52%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$3.63 PKR 1,009

37.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$17.00 PKR 4,721

-21.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.23 PKR 3,396

29.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$5.86 PKR 1,626

144.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.22 PKR 1,171

2.84%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$35.40 PKR 9,829

66.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,233 PKR 342.5K

9.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$14.97 PKR 4,156

18.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$23.37 PKR 6,490

10.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$72.8 PKR 20.2K

-11.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$30.12 PKR 8,364

18.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$74.7 PKR 20.8K

58.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$51.3 PKR 14.2K

45.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$164 PKR 45.4K

94.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$105 PKR 29.1K

72.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$858 PKR 238.1K

8.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$412 PKR 114.4K

5.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mianwali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $74.7 in Mianwali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Mianwali. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $87.0, 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 ($484 vs $456 including rent). Mianwali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $726 in Karachi and $685 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: $118 in Karachi versus $74.7 in Mianwali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $456 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 11% 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.