Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Rahim Yar Khan Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Rahim Yar Khan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Karachi versus $380 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $531 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $683 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 26% more expensive than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.76 PKR 489

21.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$8.74 PKR 2,430

42.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$3.36 PKR 934

20.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.73 PKR 481

15.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,452

$3.16 PKR 880

65.19%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$0.84 PKR 233

125.00%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.24 PKR 67.2

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.16 PKR 44.39

43.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.60 PKR 166

38.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.60 PKR 167

-3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.08 PKR 300

4.63%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.08 PKR 299

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$4.22 PKR 1,175

49.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.20 PKR 611

45.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.12 PKR 868

57.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.87 PKR 241

18.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.72 PKR 199

-19.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.58 PKR 161

60.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.48 PKR 133

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.37 PKR 103

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.40 PKR 111

27.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.56 PKR 157

-32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.29 PKR 79.8

48.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.78 PKR 495

-28.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.60 PKR 446

-21.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.85 PKR 515

12.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.00 PKR 557

4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.20 PKR 54.6

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$6.90 PKR 1,918

-8.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.07 PKR 299

-30.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.41 PKR 113

48.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.37 PKR 382

30.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.93 PKR 259

-1.08%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

-27.82%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

12.19%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$104 PKR 29.1K

26.63%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.25 PKR 903

50.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$13.99 PKR 3,892

-2.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,326

$14.07 PKR 3,914

10.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$5.98 PKR 1,663

139.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$2.61 PKR 726

65.90%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$17.53 PKR 4,878

230.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$886 PKR 246.4K

58.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$12.17 PKR 3,386

45.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$21.01 PKR 5,844

21.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$52.8 PKR 14.7K

21.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$28.71 PKR 7,986

24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$81.1 PKR 22.6K

49.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$62.5 PKR 17.4K

18.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$110 PKR 30.7K

192.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$94.8 PKR 26.4K

91.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$975 PKR 271.2K

1.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$510 PKR 141.8K

-10.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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 Rahim Yar Khan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $81.1 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $75.0 per month, with Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Rahim Yar Khan differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $380 including rent). Rahim Yar Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $715 in Karachi and $569 in Rahim Yar Khan 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Karachi versus $81.1 in Rahim Yar Khan. 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 $380 in Rahim Yar Khan – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.