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 $451 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $732 in Karachi versus $663 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Karachi versus $876 in Sheikhupura.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 587

$2.89 PKR 805

-26.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.18 PKR 3,396

$14.39 PKR 4,011

-15.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 PKR 1,174

$5.43 PKR 1,514

-22.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 536

$1.73 PKR 483

10.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 PKR 1,496

$3.90 PKR 1,088

37.69%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.08 PKR 581

-12.98%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.43 PKR 120

-20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 235

$0.55 PKR 153

52.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 152

$0.55 PKR 154

-1.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.09 PKR 303

3.67%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.21 PKR 338

-4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,772

$6.34 PKR 1,768

0.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 887

$1.82 PKR 508

74.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 PKR 1,429

$2.90 PKR 807

76.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.01 PKR 281

3.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.78 PKR 216

-25.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.96 PKR 267

-2.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.57 PKR 158

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.39 PKR 109

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.58 PKR 161

-18.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.33 PKR 92.0

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.38 PKR 105

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.41 PKR 392

$1.39 PKR 387

1.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PKR 363

$0.92 PKR 257

41.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 571

$1.96 PKR 547

4.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 PKR 608

$2.06 PKR 575

5.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.20 PKR 54.7

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.54 PKR 1,823

$6.95 PKR 1,937

-5.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.85 PKR 238

-12.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 174

$0.41 PKR 114

51.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$2.88 PKR 803

-38.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.91 PKR 254

3.30%

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

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-22.84%

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

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-6.02%

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

$137 PKR 38.3K

$111 PKR 30.9K

23.82%

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

$4.99 PKR 1,390

$5.53 PKR 1,543

-9.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,787

$18.40 PKR 5,129

-26.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.81 PKR 4,408

$12.31 PKR 3,430

28.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.27 PKR 3,978

$5.83 PKR 1,624

144.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,195

$4.14 PKR 1,155

3.62%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

-3.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 382.8K

$1,102 PKR 307.1K

24.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.85 PKR 4,976

$21.06 PKR 5,870

-15.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.82 PKR 7,197

$28.26 PKR 7,877

-8.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

$86.8 PKR 24.2K

-25.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

-10.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.6K

$73.8 PKR 20.6K

63.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$50.9 PKR 14.2K

47.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 PKR 89.5K

$166 PKR 46.2K

93.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$108 PKR 30.2K

68.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.3K

$761 PKR 212.1K

-1.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.7K

$613 PKR 170.9K

-24.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 PKR 46.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $73.8 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 $82.0, 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 5% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $451 including rent). Sheikhupura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $676 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: $120 in Karachi versus $73.8 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 $451 in Sheikhupura – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sheikhupura runs roughly 6% 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 5% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.