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: $477 in Karachi versus $414 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $613 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $812 in Multan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 15% more expensive than Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Multan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.18 PKR 606

-1.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$8.58 PKR 2,386

44.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$5.19 PKR 1,443

-21.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.72 PKR 478

15.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$3.20 PKR 891

63.12%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.43 PKR 398

32.17%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.28 PKR 77.0

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.20 PKR 54.9

15.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.58 PKR 163

43.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.60 PKR 168

-3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.04 PKR 290

8.65%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.08 PKR 300

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$4.93 PKR 1,371

27.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.57 PKR 716

24.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.03 PKR 842

62.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.01 PKR 282

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.68 PKR 188

-14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.58 PKR 160

60.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.51 PKR 143

9.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.38 PKR 104

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.43 PKR 119

18.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.57 PKR 157

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.36 PKR 99.4

19.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.85 PKR 515

-30.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.54 PKR 428

-18.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.94 PKR 539

7.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.97 PKR 549

5.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.17 PKR 47.97

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$7.26 PKR 2,019

-12.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.03 PKR 286

-28.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.31 PKR 85.4

96.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.38 PKR 384

29.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.95 PKR 266

-3.16%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-26.81%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

11.63%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$103 PKR 28.6K

28.63%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$4.84 PKR 1,347

1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$13.62 PKR 3,790

0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$17.96 PKR 4,997

-13.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$12.52 PKR 3,484

14.46%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$2.64 PKR 734

64.02%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$36.00 PKR 10.0K

61.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,755 PKR 488.2K

-20.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$16.34 PKR 4,547

8.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$27.87 PKR 7,752

-8.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

-9.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,975

$29.24 PKR 8,135

22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$85.3 PKR 23.7K

42.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$58.6 PKR 16.3K

26.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$178 PKR 49.4K

81.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$126 PKR 34.9K

44.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$180 PKR 50.0K

0.51%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Multan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $85.3 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 1% 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: $12.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Multan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $80.0 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 15% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $414 including rent). Multan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Karachi pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Karachi versus $85.3 in Multan. 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 $414 in Multan – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Multan runs roughly 15% 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 15% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.