Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Nawabshah Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Nawabshah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $481 in Karachi versus $438 in Nawabshah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $635 in Nawabshah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $989 in Karachi versus $831 in Nawabshah.

Living in Karachi is roughly 10% more expensive than in Nawabshah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Nawabshah 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 PKR 577

$2.08 PKR 579

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.33 PKR 3,424

$12.43 PKR 3,450

-0.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.17 PKR 1,159

$4.07 PKR 1,129

2.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.91 PKR 531

4.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.24 PKR 1,456

$5.18 PKR 1,437

1.16%

Cappuccino

$1.87 PKR 519

$1.82 PKR 506

2.75%

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

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.36 PKR 100

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.70 PKR 194

15.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.33 PKR 92.7

63.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.17 PKR 325

-4.27%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 340

$0.99 PKR 274

23.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 PKR 1,776

$6.34 PKR 1,759

0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 904

$2.19 PKR 607

48.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,403

$3.62 PKR 1,005

39.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.09 PKR 302

-5.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.46 PKR 128

28.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.75 PKR 207

16.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.28 PKR 78.5

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.28 PKR 78.3

39.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.51 PKR 142

-1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.1

$0.36 PKR 99.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.40 PKR 112

10.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.29 PKR 359

-3.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.28 PKR 355

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.15 PKR 596

0.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 PKR 592

$1.66 PKR 461

28.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.17 PKR 46.80

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.21 PKR 1,725

$7.11 PKR 1,974

-12.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 193

$0.72 PKR 201

-2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.65 PKR 181

3.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.75 PKR 487

4.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.87 PKR 243

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

-0.41%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$24.7K PKR 6.9M

1.54%

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

$132 PKR 36.7K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-0.35%

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

$5.02 PKR 1,394

$5.01 PKR 1,390

0.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 PKR 3,708

$13.54 PKR 3,760

-1.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.80 PKR 4,386

$12.16 PKR 3,377

29.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.58 PKR 4,048

$5.89 PKR 1,636

147.54%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,190

$4.33 PKR 1,202

-0.92%

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

$57.6 PKR 16.0K

$57.0 PKR 15.8K

0.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 381.2K

$1,354 PKR 375.8K

1.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.75 PKR 4,928

$17.68 PKR 4,909

0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 PKR 6,980

$25.48 PKR 7,074

-1.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 PKR 18.1K

$63.7 PKR 17.7K

2.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.37 PKR 9,819

$35.63 PKR 9,891

-0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.9K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

62.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

40.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 PKR 87.0K

$169 PKR 46.8K

85.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 PKR 49.7K

$108 PKR 30.0K

65.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$918 PKR 254.8K

$852 PKR 236.4K

7.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$443 PKR 122.9K

$510 PKR 141.6K

-13.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.5K

$128 PKR 35.4K

39.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

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

Last update for Karachi: July 20, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $75.1 in Nawabshah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 40% 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 $12.00 in Nawabshah. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $80.0, with Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Nawabshah differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($481 vs $438 including rent). Nawabshah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 40% higher in Karachi, 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 $75.1 in Nawabshah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $481 per month in Karachi versus $438 in Nawabshah – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nawabshah runs roughly 14% 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 Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.