Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Multan Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Multan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $476 in Karachi versus $525 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $750 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $976 in Multan.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 9% less than in Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Multan 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.51 PKR 695

-12.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,785

$10.95 PKR 3,033

24.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.51 PKR 1,528

0.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 595

$2.63 PKR 729

-18.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$5.24 PKR 1,452

40.46%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$1.77 PKR 490

25.99%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.28 PKR 77.3

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.20 PKR 54.7

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.67 PKR 184

26.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.54 PKR 150

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.02 PKR 283

17.65%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.15 PKR 318

6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$7.13 PKR 1,976

-12.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$2.39 PKR 661

29.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,761

$4.25 PKR 1,178

49.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$0.92 PKR 254

38.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.52 PKR 145

3.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$0.71 PKR 195

46.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.59 PKR 162

3.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.37 PKR 102

-13.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.43 PKR 120

-30.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.47 PKR 129

-14.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.37 PKR 104

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.81 PKR 501

-29.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$2.81 PKR 777

-14.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.12 PKR 589

-14.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.18 PKR 48.56

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$7.32 PKR 2,026

10.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.48 PKR 409

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.35 PKR 96.9

111.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$0.88 PKR 244

139.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.10 PKR 304

20.00%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

-29.13%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

2.04%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$147 PKR 40.7K

-25.97%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$4.83 PKR 1,338

20.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$18.85 PKR 5,223

-31.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,927

$23.83 PKR 6,602

-10.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

$3.56 PKR 986

428.65%

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.44 PKR 1,229

-4.28%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$42.39 PKR 11.7K

18.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$1,029 PKR 285.1K

52.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$18.02 PKR 4,991

-12.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,218

$18.90 PKR 5,236

18.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$93.5 PKR 25.9K

-26.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$25.90 PKR 7,174

49.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$145 PKR 40.2K

-23.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$90.5 PKR 25.1K

-19.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$215 PKR 59.6K

51.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$149 PKR 41.3K

21.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

$185 PKR 51.2K

-3.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

-0.92%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Multan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $145 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Multan pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Multan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $89.0 per month, with Multan 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 Multan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Multan differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $525 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Multan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $111 in Karachi versus $145 in Multan. 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 $525 in Multan – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 10% less than in Multan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.