Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Pattoki Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Pattoki

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $369 in Pattoki.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Karachi versus $539 in Pattoki.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Karachi versus $708 in Pattoki.

Living in Karachi is roughly 31% more expensive than in Pattoki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Pattoki 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 PKR 572
$2.10 PKR 583
-1.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.15 PKR 3,373
$8.59 PKR 2,385
41.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 PKR 1,112
$5.26 PKR 1,459
-23.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 PKR 533
$1.80 PKR 501
6.67%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 PKR 1,478
$3.15 PKR 873
69.21%
Cappuccino
$1.85 PKR 513
$1.38 PKR 382
34.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 PKR 92.7
$0.30 PKR 84.5
10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.0
$0.21 PKR 58.9
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 PKR 232
$0.49 PKR 137
71.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 PKR 162
$0.37 PKR 104
56.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 PKR 310
$0.68 PKR 189
64.71%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 325
$0.76 PKR 210
53.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.28 PKR 1,744
$1.44 PKR 400
336.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.18 PKR 884
$2.58 PKR 717
23.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.03 PKR 1,396
$3.18 PKR 883
58.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.05 PKR 291
$0.34 PKR 93.3
208.82%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 165
$0.34 PKR 93.9
73.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 PKR 256
$0.58 PKR 162
58.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 149
$0.52 PKR 143
3.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$0.37 PKR 102
-5.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 130
$0.34 PKR 94.3
38.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 PKR 97.8
$0.34 PKR 93.1
2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 PKR 121
$0.36 PKR 101
22.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.29 PKR 358
$1.83 PKR 507
-29.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 PKR 353
$0.34 PKR 93.4
273.53%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 PKR 569
$1.85 PKR 513
10.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 PKR 578
$2.01 PKR 557
3.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 PKR 100
$0.17 PKR 47.55
111.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.42 PKR 1,782
$7.04 PKR 1,953
-8.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 PKR 190
$1.05 PKR 291
-34.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 PKR 184
$0.53 PKR 148
24.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 PKR 480
$1.45 PKR 403
19.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 254
$0.99 PKR 275
-7.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K PKR 4.7M
$22.4K PKR 6.2M
-24.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K PKR 6.9M
$22.5K PKR 6.2M
10.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 PKR 36.8K
$105 PKR 29.2K
25.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.86 PKR 1,349
$4.65 PKR 1,291
4.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.62 PKR 3,779
$13.56 PKR 3,763
0.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.31 PKR 4,250
$12.35 PKR 3,427
23.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.55 PKR 4,038
$5.79 PKR 1,607
151.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 PKR 1,142
$2.68 PKR 743
53.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$57.5 PKR 16.0K
$36.27 PKR 10.1K
58.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,387 PKR 385.0K
$1,751 PKR 485.8K
-20.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.46 PKR 4,847
$16.71 PKR 4,639
4.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.90 PKR 7,188
$27.52 PKR 7,638
-5.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.6 PKR 17.6K
$69.5 PKR 19.3K
-8.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.40 PKR 10.1K
$29.60 PKR 8,216
22.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$119 PKR 33.0K
$75.9 PKR 21.1K
56.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$75.6 PKR 21.0K
$52.3 PKR 14.5K
44.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$318 PKR 88.2K
$168 PKR 46.6K
89.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 PKR 51.3K
$104 PKR 28.9K
77.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$912 PKR 253.2K
$908 PKR 252.1K
0.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$442 PKR 122.5K
$480 PKR 133.3K
-8.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Pattoki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$179 PKR 49.7K
-
-
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 26, 2026

Last update for Pattoki: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Karachi and $75.9 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 $97.0 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 in Pattoki?
Karachi and Pattoki differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $369 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 $553 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 in Pattoki?
Rent for a central apartment: $119 in Karachi versus $75.9 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 $369 in Pattoki – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Karachi and in Pattoki?
A monthly transit pass in Pattoki runs roughly 10% 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 compared to 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 31% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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