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: $482 in Karachi versus $455 in Sheikhupura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $737 in Karachi versus $682 in Sheikhupura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $992 in Karachi versus $909 in Sheikhupura.

Living in Karachi is roughly 6% 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

$2.08 PKR 578

$2.79 PKR 774

-25.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,458

$14.41 PKR 4,005

-13.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 PKR 1,131

$5.17 PKR 1,437

-21.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.72 PKR 478

16.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 PKR 1,506

$3.87 PKR 1,075

40.05%

Cappuccino

$1.88 PKR 524

$1.98 PKR 552

-5.05%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.43 PKR 119

-20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 223

$0.56 PKR 155

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.51 PKR 143

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.04 PKR 289

7.69%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.27 PKR 352

-7.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.61 PKR 1,838

$6.35 PKR 1,766

4.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 886

$1.75 PKR 486

82.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 PKR 1,408

$2.77 PKR 770

83.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.79 PKR 219

-29.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.88 PKR 244

1.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.7

$0.42 PKR 116

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.57 PKR 157

-17.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.33 PKR 92.1

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.27 PKR 354

$1.45 PKR 404

-12.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 366

$0.91 PKR 253

45.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

$1.95 PKR 542

4.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 586

$2.08 PKR 579

1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.16 PKR 45.40

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.24 PKR 1,734

$7.12 PKR 1,978

-12.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.87 PKR 241

-16.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.40 PKR 111

52.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$2.78 PKR 773

-37.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.97 PKR 271

-9.28%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-23.04%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-5.42%

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

$133 PKR 36.9K

$112 PKR 31.0K

19.10%

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

$5.11 PKR 1,419

$5.47 PKR 1,521

-6.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.67 PKR 3,801

$18.56 PKR 5,161

-26.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.52 PKR 4,315

$12.54 PKR 3,486

23.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 PKR 4,018

$5.82 PKR 1,618

148.28%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,172

$4.16 PKR 1,157

1.20%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$60.8 PKR 16.9K

-4.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,384 PKR 384.8K

$1,127 PKR 313.3K

22.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.48 PKR 4,859

$21.07 PKR 5,859

-17.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.97 PKR 6,943

$27.55 PKR 7,659

-9.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

$88.4 PKR 24.6K

-26.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.1K

$40.58 PKR 11.3K

-10.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 PKR 32.6K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

55.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.8 PKR 20.5K

$51.7 PKR 14.4K

42.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 PKR 86.7K

$170 PKR 47.2K

83.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.5K

$104 PKR 28.9K

74.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$929 PKR 258.2K

$765 PKR 212.7K

21.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$437 PKR 121.4K

$429 PKR 119.4K

1.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.9K

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Sheikhupura: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Karachi and $75.5 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 $81.0, 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 6% in total monthly costs ($482 vs $455 including rent). Sheikhupura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $723 in Karachi and $682 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: $117 in Karachi versus $75.5 in Sheikhupura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $482 per month in Karachi versus $455 in Sheikhupura – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sheikhupura runs roughly 14% 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 6% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.