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: $484 in Karachi versus $401 in Pakpattan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $595 in Pakpattan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $789 in Pakpattan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 21% more expensive than in Pakpattan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.10 PKR 584

-1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$8.62 PKR 2,392

45.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$5.23 PKR 1,452

-23.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.72 PKR 478

12.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$3.13 PKR 869

68.37%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.37 PKR 379

32.12%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.30 PKR 83.3

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.21 PKR 58.6

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.58 PKR 161

36.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.56 PKR 155

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.04 PKR 290

13.46%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.08 PKR 299

6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$4.94 PKR 1,371

29.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.47 PKR 685

26.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.02 PKR 837

68.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.98 PKR 273

5.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.67 PKR 185

-10.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.57 PKR 159

61.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.48 PKR 134

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.40 PKR 112

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.42 PKR 117

19.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.55 PKR 154

-34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.38 PKR 106

7.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.80 PKR 499

-30.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$1.55 PKR 431

-14.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.92 PKR 534

7.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.99 PKR 553

8.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.16 PKR 44.75

106.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$6.97 PKR 1,934

-7.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.07 PKR 298

-30.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.49 PKR 136

24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.39 PKR 387

25.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.01 PKR 280

-6.93%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

-23.91%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

13.10%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$105 PKR 29.2K

27.65%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$4.89 PKR 1,359

2.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$13.48 PKR 3,744

-1.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.57 PKR 3,492

26.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$5.83 PKR 1,618

146.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$2.70 PKR 751

60.74%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$36.18 PKR 10.0K

62.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,743 PKR 484.1K

-22.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$16.83 PKR 4,674

5.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$27.41 PKR 7,611

-5.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

-8.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$29.01 PKR 8,055

23.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

60.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$52.3 PKR 14.5K

42.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$167 PKR 46.3K

91.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$107 PKR 29.6K

70.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$802 PKR 222.7K

16.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$481 PKR 133.4K

-9.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$106 PKR 29.4K

66.99%

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 Pakpattan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $73.9 in Pakpattan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 67% 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: $13.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Pakpattan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $79.0 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 21% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $401 including rent). Pakpattan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 67% 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: $118 in Karachi versus $73.9 in Pakpattan. 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 $401 in Pakpattan – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 8% 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 21% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.