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: $484 in Karachi versus $368 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $532 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $696 in Rahim Yar Khan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 32% more expensive than in 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

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.75 PKR 487

17.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$8.91 PKR 2,474

40.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$3.20 PKR 890

24.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.76 PKR 487

9.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$3.26 PKR 906

61.66%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$0.89 PKR 248

103.37%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.24 PKR 66.8

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.16 PKR 45.10

31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.59 PKR 164

33.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.59 PKR 165

-1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.07 PKR 298

10.28%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.07 PKR 297

7.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$4.26 PKR 1,183

50.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.16 PKR 600

44.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.15 PKR 875

61.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.86 PKR 238

19.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.72 PKR 201

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.58 PKR 160

58.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.48 PKR 133

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.40 PKR 112

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.39 PKR 109

28.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.61 PKR 169

-40.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.29 PKR 79.4

41.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.88 PKR 521

-33.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$1.57 PKR 435

-15.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$1.94 PKR 539

6.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.01 PKR 557

7.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.15 PKR 42.71

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$6.90 PKR 1,915

-6.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.08 PKR 301

-31.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.44 PKR 122

38.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.43 PKR 398

21.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.00 PKR 277

-6.00%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

-25.37%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

14.94%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$105 PKR 29.0K

28.48%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$3.13 PKR 870

59.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$13.57 PKR 3,767

-2.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$14.31 PKR 3,972

10.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$5.96 PKR 1,656

140.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$2.70 PKR 749

60.74%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$17.70 PKR 4,914

232.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$880 PKR 244.3K

54.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$12.56 PKR 3,489

41.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$21.30 PKR 5,915

21.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

20.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$28.66 PKR 7,959

25.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$79.8 PKR 22.2K

48.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$61.0 PKR 16.9K

22.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$113 PKR 31.4K

182.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$95.5 PKR 26.5K

89.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$529 PKR 146.9K

76.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$442 PKR 122.8K

-2.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$90.9 PKR 25.3K

94.61%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 95% 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: $13.00 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 32% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $368 including rent). Rahim Yar Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 95% 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: $118 in Karachi versus $79.8 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $368 in Rahim Yar Khan – a 32% 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 7% 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 32% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.