Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Pakpattan Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Pakpattan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $440 in Pakpattan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $624 in Pakpattan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $809 in Pakpattan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 4% more expensive than in Pakpattan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Pakpattan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 612

$1.23 PKR 342

78.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,976

$10.64 PKR 2,951

34.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$5.49 PKR 1,522

-4.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

$2.77 PKR 769

-22.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,041

$5.13 PKR 1,423

43.47%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.78 PKR 493

23.60%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.17 PKR 47.09

94.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.4

$0.11 PKR 30.37

109.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.63 PKR 176

41.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.51 PKR 143

1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$0.88 PKR 245

40.91%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.09 PKR 304

11.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,716

$7.25 PKR 2,010

-14.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.45 PKR 680

23.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,696

$3.51 PKR 972

74.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 340

$0.89 PKR 246

37.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.49 PKR 135

12.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.28 PKR 77.3

250.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.54 PKR 150

9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.36 PKR 101

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.3

$0.43 PKR 119

-27.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.49 PKR 137

-20.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.37 PKR 104

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.81 PKR 503

-30.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.20 PKR 332

10.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.82 PKR 782

-12.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.22 PKR 616

-19.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.6

$0.17 PKR 47.78

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,275

$10.09 PKR 2,800

-18.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.41 PKR 391

-47.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.38 PKR 105

84.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$0.92 PKR 255

139.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.01 PKR 281

31.68%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-27.82%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

3.61%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$147 PKR 40.7K

-29.29%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,631

$5.02 PKR 1,392

17.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,567

$19.41 PKR 5,386

-33.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,637

$15.09 PKR 4,187

34.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,177

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,222

$4.43 PKR 1,228

-0.68%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$12.60 PKR 3,495

299.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

$1,018 PKR 282.4K

35.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,109

$10.68 PKR 2,962

38.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,076

$12.43 PKR 3,450

76.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$25.16 PKR 6,979

159.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,933

$14.25 PKR 3,953

151.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$125 PKR 34.6K

-11.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

$77.5 PKR 21.5K

-8.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.3K

$255 PKR 70.6K

16.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$146 PKR 40.6K

23.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.9K

$843 PKR 233.9K

15.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$483 PKR 133.9K

-3.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$106 PKR 29.5K

71.00%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Pakpattan: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $125 in Pakpattan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 71% 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 Pakpattan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $83.0 per month, with Pakpattan 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 Pakpattan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Pakpattan differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $440 including rent). Pakpattan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 71% 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 $125 in Pakpattan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $440 in Pakpattan – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 23% 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 Pakpattan 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 Pakpattan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.