😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $378 in Pattoki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $723 in Karachi versus $544 in Pattoki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $963 in Karachi versus $711 in Pattoki.
😐Living in Karachi is roughly 28% more expensive than Pattoki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi64% lower, Pattoki72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15PKR 598
$2.07PKR 575
3.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44PKR 3,457
$9.00PKR 2,502
38.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.20PKR 1,167
$5.36PKR 1,489
-21.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00PKR 556
$1.73PKR 482
15.61%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44PKR 1,512
$3.15PKR 876
72.70%
Cappuccino
$1.83PKR 508
$1.38PKR 385
32.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 93.4
$0.30PKR 83.4
13.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.18PKR 49.94
27.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81PKR 224
$0.47PKR 130
72.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$0.41PKR 113
34.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14PKR 317
$0.69PKR 192
65.22%
Eggs
$1.16PKR 322
$0.76PKR 212
52.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.64PKR 1,847
$1.43PKR 398
364.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28PKR 912
$2.56PKR 712
28.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.18PKR 1,440
$3.14PKR 873
64.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$0.34PKR 94.3
202.94%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59PKR 165
$0.33PKR 92.6
78.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.88PKR 245
$0.53PKR 148
66.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 146
$0.52PKR 146
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 99.7
$0.33PKR 92.5
9.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47PKR 132
$0.34PKR 93.2
38.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38PKR 106
$0.36PKR 101
5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 112
$0.36PKR 101
11.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.30PKR 360
$1.88PKR 523
-30.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27PKR 354
$0.33PKR 93.0
284.85%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14PKR 596
$1.91PKR 530
12.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06PKR 573
$1.90PKR 529
8.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.18PKR 48.90
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.49PKR 1,803
$7.19PKR 2,000
-9.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74PKR 207
$1.07PKR 298
-30.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.49PKR 136
36.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.78PKR 495
$1.38PKR 383
28.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87PKR 242
$0.96PKR 266
-9.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5KPKR 4.6M
$22.3KPKR 6.2M
-26.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KPKR 6.8M
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
10.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135PKR 37.6K
$103PKR 28.8K
30.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.93PKR 1,371
$4.87PKR 1,355
1.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.36PKR 3,713
$13.56PKR 3,769
-1.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.63PKR 4,345
$12.41PKR 3,451
25.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.40PKR 4,003
$5.90PKR 1,639
144.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.35PKR 1,209
$2.57PKR 715
69.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.0PKR 16.1K
$36.27PKR 10.1K
59.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,354PKR 376.4K
$1,737PKR 482.9K
-22.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.69PKR 4,918
$16.57PKR 4,607
6.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.06PKR 6,968
$28.06PKR 7,802
-10.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.6PKR 18.0K
$68.8PKR 19.1K
-6.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.14PKR 10.0K
$29.38PKR 8,169
23.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$120PKR 33.5K
$75.4PKR 21.0K
59.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$75.3PKR 20.9K
$51.0PKR 14.2K
47.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$318PKR 88.5K
$169PKR 47.0K
88.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179PKR 49.8K
$106PKR 29.4K
69.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$998PKR 277.5K
$878PKR 244.2K
13.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$463PKR 128.9K
$456PKR 126.7K
1.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171PKR 47.5K
-
-
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 7, 2026
Last update for Pattoki: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $75.4 in Pattoki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Pattoki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $57.0 per month, with Pattoki 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 Pattoki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karachi and Pattoki?
Karachi and Pattoki differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $378 including rent). Pattoki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Karachi compared to Pattoki?
You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $567 in Pattoki to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Karachi and Pattoki?
Rent for a central apartment: $120 in Karachi versus $75.4 in Pattoki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karachi or Pattoki?
All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $378 in Pattoki – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Karachi and Pattoki?
A monthly transit pass in Pattoki runs roughly 11% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $1,000 go in Karachi vs Pattoki?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pattoki gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Karachi and Pattoki?
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.
Where should expats move: Karachi or Pattoki?
Expats usually find Pattoki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.