Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Sheikhupura Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Sheikhupura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $452 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Karachi versus $670 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Karachi versus $887 in Sheikhupura.

Living in Karachi is roughly 7% more expensive than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Sheikhupura 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.78 PKR 772

-25.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,373

$14.03 PKR 3,895

-13.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,111

$5.39 PKR 1,497

-25.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

$1.80 PKR 499

6.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

$3.96 PKR 1,099

34.60%

Cappuccino

$1.85 PKR 513

$2.05 PKR 568

-9.76%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.42 PKR 118

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.22 PKR 60.9

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.54 PKR 150

55.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.54 PKR 151

7.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.04 PKR 287

7.69%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.21 PKR 337

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,744

$6.17 PKR 1,711

1.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 884

$1.75 PKR 487

81.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 PKR 1,396

$2.88 PKR 799

74.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.03 PKR 286

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.77 PKR 214

-23.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.91 PKR 251

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.55 PKR 153

-1.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.42 PKR 116

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.57 PKR 158

-17.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.31 PKR 84.8

12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.37 PKR 104

18.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.42 PKR 393

-9.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.88 PKR 243

44.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

$1.95 PKR 540

5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$2.07 PKR 575

0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.17 PKR 46.80

111.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.42 PKR 1,782

$6.99 PKR 1,939

-8.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.89 PKR 248

-22.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.43 PKR 120

53.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.87 PKR 798

-39.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.90 PKR 251

2.22%

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

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-22.20%

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

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

-5.57%

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

$133 PKR 36.8K

$113 PKR 31.5K

16.93%

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

$4.86 PKR 1,349

$5.46 PKR 1,516

-10.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 PKR 3,779

$18.60 PKR 5,163

-26.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.31 PKR 4,250

$12.62 PKR 3,502

21.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 PKR 4,038

$5.90 PKR 1,638

146.61%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 PKR 1,142

$4.19 PKR 1,163

-1.91%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

-3.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

$1,088 PKR 302.1K

27.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 PKR 4,847

$21.69 PKR 6,021

-19.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 PKR 7,188

$27.57 PKR 7,652

-6.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

-26.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

$39.70 PKR 11.0K

-8.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.0K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

58.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

48.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.2K

$168 PKR 46.7K

88.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 PKR 51.3K

$108 PKR 29.9K

71.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$912 PKR 253.2K

$859 PKR 238.3K

6.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 PKR 122.5K

$531 PKR 147.4K

-16.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

20.2

-11.88%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Karachi and $75.0 in Sheikhupura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Sheikhupura. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $80.0, with Sheikhupura cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Sheikhupura differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $452 including rent). Sheikhupura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $678 in Sheikhupura 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: $119 in Karachi versus $75.0 in Sheikhupura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $452 in Sheikhupura – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sheikhupura 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 $1,000 a month, though Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.