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: $477 in Karachi versus $406 in Pakpattan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $597 in Pakpattan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $788 in Pakpattan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 17% more expensive than Pakpattan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

$8.78 PKR 2,444

41.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$5.33 PKR 1,482

-23.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.72 PKR 479

15.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$3.24 PKR 901

61.11%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.37 PKR 382

37.96%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.28 PKR 77.6

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.17 PKR 48.64

35.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.58 PKR 163

43.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.56 PKR 157

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.05 PKR 291

7.62%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.09 PKR 303

11.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$4.75 PKR 1,321

32.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.59 PKR 722

23.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.04 PKR 846

61.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.97 PKR 270

6.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.72 PKR 199

-19.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.59 PKR 163

57.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.48 PKR 134

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.38 PKR 105

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.42 PKR 117

21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.56 PKR 155

-32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.38 PKR 107

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.84 PKR 513

-30.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.63 PKR 453

-22.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.91 PKR 531

8.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.94 PKR 539

7.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.20 PKR 55.3

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$6.88 PKR 1,913

-7.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.03 PKR 287

-28.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.50 PKR 139

22.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.45 PKR 402

23.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$1.01 PKR 281

-8.91%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-26.11%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$22.1K PKR 6.1M

10.97%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$105 PKR 29.1K

26.29%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$4.93 PKR 1,370

-0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$13.99 PKR 3,893

-2.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$12.40 PKR 3,448

25.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$5.87 PKR 1,633

144.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$2.59 PKR 722

67.18%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$36.33 PKR 10.1K

59.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,751 PKR 487.0K

-19.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$16.49 PKR 4,588

7.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$27.39 PKR 7,618

-6.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$69.0 PKR 19.2K

-6.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$28.62 PKR 7,963

25.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$74.3 PKR 20.7K

63.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

45.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$167 PKR 46.4K

93.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$104 PKR 29.0K

74.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$1,075 PKR 299.2K

-8.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$516 PKR 143.6K

-11.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$106 PKR 29.4K

70.60%

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 Pakpattan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $74.3 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: $12.00 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 17% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $406 including rent). Pakpattan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Karachi pays 71% 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 $74.3 in Pakpattan. 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 $406 in Pakpattan – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 9% 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 17% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.