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: $476 in Karachi versus $452 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $658 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $863 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 5% more expensive than in Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Rahim Yar Khan 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.46 PKR 405

50.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,784

$10.89 PKR 3,018

25.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$4.58 PKR 1,269

20.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 594

$2.66 PKR 738

-19.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,038

$5.22 PKR 1,445

41.00%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$0.88 PKR 244

153.41%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.2

$0.30 PKR 83.3

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.18 PKR 51.0

44.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.68 PKR 189

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.43 PKR 119

27.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$0.71 PKR 197

69.01%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.10 PKR 305

10.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$3.20 PKR 887

95.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$2.47 PKR 684

25.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,760

$4.36 PKR 1,209

45.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$0.46 PKR 129

176.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.34 PKR 95.2

58.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$0.53 PKR 146

96.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.34 PKR 95.2

79.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.35 PKR 96.8

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.28 PKR 77.8

7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.19 PKR 52.2

110.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.29 PKR 81.0

48.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.88 PKR 522

-31.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$2.95 PKR 818

-18.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.15 PKR 596

-15.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.10 PKR 27.96

180.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.75 PKR 209

-1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.37 PKR 103

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$2.21 PKR 613

-4.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.05 PKR 290

25.71%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-27.83%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

17.59%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$142 PKR 39.4K

-23.50%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$4.95 PKR 1,371

17.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$14.25 PKR 3,946

-9.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,926

$9.74 PKR 2,697

119.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,213

$18.00 PKR 4,985

4.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.45 PKR 1,232

-4.49%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$19.58 PKR 5,423

155.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$1,026 PKR 284.1K

53.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$10.85 PKR 3,006

44.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,217

$18.21 PKR 5,044

23.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$94.3 PKR 26.1K

-27.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$25.50 PKR 7,062

52.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$124 PKR 34.3K

-10.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$91.1 PKR 25.2K

-20.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$271 PKR 75.0K

20.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$178 PKR 49.4K

1.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$546 PKR 151.3K

86.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.1K

$458 PKR 126.8K

5.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

$88.6 PKR 24.6K

100.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

12.5

3.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $124 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 100% 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: $14.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Rahim Yar Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $67.0 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 5% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $452 including rent). Rahim Yar Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 100% 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: $111 in Karachi versus $124 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Karachi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $476 per month in Karachi versus $452 in Rahim Yar Khan – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 5% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.