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: $476 in Karachi versus $509 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $795 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $1,081 in Sheikhupura.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 7% less than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Sheikhupura 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$3.66 PKR 1,013

-39.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,784

$23.26 PKR 6,443

-41.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.51 PKR 1,526

0.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 594

$3.51 PKR 971

-38.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,038

$6.76 PKR 1,873

8.88%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$2.53 PKR 701

-11.86%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.2

$0.33 PKR 90.3

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.21 PKR 57.9

23.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.95 PKR 262

-10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.80 PKR 222

-31.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.25 PKR 348

-4.00%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.27 PKR 351

-3.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$6.03 PKR 1,670

3.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$3.19 PKR 884

-2.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,760

$5.23 PKR 1,448

21.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.86 PKR 238

-37.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$1.08 PKR 299

-3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.53 PKR 147

15.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.26 PKR 71.9

23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.33 PKR 90.3

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.28 PKR 76.6

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.43 PKR 118

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.79 PKR 496

-28.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$1.23 PKR 342

12.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$2.59 PKR 718

-6.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.40 PKR 664

-24.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.21 PKR 57.0

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$8.81 PKR 2,441

-8.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.24 PKR 343

-40.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.69 PKR 190

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$1.65 PKR 456

27.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.30 PKR 360

1.54%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

-17.69%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$24.4K PKR 6.7M

11.43%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$104 PKR 28.7K

5.08%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$5.78 PKR 1,602

0.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$15.94 PKR 4,415

-18.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,926

$14.98 PKR 4,148

42.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,213

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.44 PKR 1,229

-4.28%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

-33.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$997 PKR 276.1K

57.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$24.52 PKR 6,791

-35.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,217

$35.37 PKR 9,797

-36.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$97.1 PKR 26.9K

-29.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$40.46 PKR 11.2K

-4.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$145 PKR 40.1K

-23.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$79.9 PKR 22.1K

-8.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$258 PKR 71.5K

26.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$142 PKR 39.3K

27.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$968 PKR 268.1K

5.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.1K

$516 PKR 143.1K

-6.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

13.08

-1.53%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $145 in Sheikhupura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $23.00 in Sheikhupura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $103 per month, with Karachi 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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Sheikhupura differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $509 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $763 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: $111 in Karachi versus $145 in Sheikhupura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $476 per month in Karachi versus $509 in Sheikhupura – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 9% less than in Sheikhupura. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Sheikhupura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.