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: $484 in Karachi versus $406 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $615 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $824 in Multan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 19% more expensive than in Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Multan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.07 PKR 574

-0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$8.62 PKR 2,393

45.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$5.16 PKR 1,432

-22.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.75 PKR 486

10.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$3.22 PKR 895

63.66%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.43 PKR 397

26.57%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.30 PKR 84.3

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.20 PKR 55.6

5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.59 PKR 163

33.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.56 PKR 156

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.05 PKR 291

12.38%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.03 PKR 286

11.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$4.76 PKR 1,322

34.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.60 PKR 721

20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.08 PKR 857

65.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.99 PKR 274

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.68 PKR 188

-11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.57 PKR 160

61.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.49 PKR 136

16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.38 PKR 105

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.40 PKR 110

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.60 PKR 168

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.36 PKR 98.7

13.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.81 PKR 503

-30.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$1.57 PKR 435

-15.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.83 PKR 509

12.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.92 PKR 534

12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.19 PKR 52.1

73.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.17 PKR 1,991

-10.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.04 PKR 288

-28.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.31 PKR 85.2

96.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.42 PKR 395

22.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.99 PKR 275

-5.05%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-24.71%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$22.5K PKR 6.3M

12.19%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$105 PKR 29.0K

28.54%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$4.92 PKR 1,365

1.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$13.89 PKR 3,857

-4.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$18.04 PKR 5,008

-12.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$12.58 PKR 3,494

14.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$2.63 PKR 731

65.02%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

61.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,754 PKR 487.2K

-22.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$16.64 PKR 4,622

6.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$27.32 PKR 7,586

-5.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$70.2 PKR 19.5K

-8.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$29.67 PKR 8,239

20.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

36.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

29.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$175 PKR 48.5K

82.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$125 PKR 34.8K

44.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$183 PKR 50.8K

-3.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

17.43

2.12%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Multan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $86.9 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Multan pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Multan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $79.0 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 19% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $406 including rent). Multan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 3% 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: $118 in Karachi versus $86.9 in Multan. 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 $406 in Multan – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Multan runs roughly 12% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Multan 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 Multan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.