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: $476 in Karachi versus $475 in Nawabshah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $701 in Nawabshah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $927 in Nawabshah.

Monthly costs are close between Karachi and Nawabshah; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.12 PKR 587

3.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,785

$13.41 PKR 3,715

1.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.34 PKR 1,479

3.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 595

$2.14 PKR 593

0.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$7.01 PKR 1,943

4.99%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.39 PKR 107

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.24 PKR 66.1

8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.85 PKR 235

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.56 PKR 154

-1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.20 PKR 331

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.22 PKR 339

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$6.25 PKR 1,730

-0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$3.05 PKR 844

1.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,761

$6.07 PKR 1,681

4.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.22 PKR 338

4.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.60 PKR 165

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$1.03 PKR 285

0.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.56 PKR 154

8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.34 PKR 94.5

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.31 PKR 85.6

-3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.36 PKR 101

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.44 PKR 121

-2.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.23 PKR 341

4.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$1.35 PKR 375

2.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$2.40 PKR 665

0.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$1.82 PKR 505

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.16 PKR 45.17

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$9.07 PKR 2,512

-10.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.73 PKR 203

1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.69 PKR 192

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$2.11 PKR 584

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.28 PKR 355

3.13%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

1.30%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

1.80%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

-0.24%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$5.82 PKR 1,613

0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$13.40 PKR 3,711

-3.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,927

$13.49 PKR 3,736

58.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.37 PKR 1,210

-2.75%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$49.92 PKR 13.8K

0.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$1,599 PKR 442.9K

-1.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$15.42 PKR 4,272

1.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,218

$21.92 PKR 6,072

2.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$69.6 PKR 19.3K

-1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$38.71 PKR 10.7K

0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$126 PKR 34.8K

-11.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$78.0 PKR 21.6K

-6.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$258 PKR 71.4K

26.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$150 PKR 41.4K

21.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$965 PKR 267.3K

5.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

$443 PKR 122.8K

9.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

$126 PKR 34.9K

40.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Nawabshah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $126 in Nawabshah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 41% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $13.00 in Nawabshah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $101 per month, with Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Average pay runs 41% 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: $111 in Karachi versus $126 in Nawabshah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Karachi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Nawabshah wins on affordability, Karachi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.