Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Sialkot Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Sialkot

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $359 in Sialkot.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $518 in Sialkot.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $676 in Sialkot.

Living in Karachi is roughly 27% more expensive than in Sialkot, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Sialkot 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$1.09 PKR 302

101.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,973

$7.40 PKR 2,051

93.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.56 PKR 1,540

-5.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$3.54 PKR 981

-39.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$2.84 PKR 789

159.15%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.60 PKR 445

37.50%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.29 PKR 81.7

13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.21 PKR 57.8

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.91 PKR 253

-2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.63 PKR 174

-17.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.00 PKR 277

24.00%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.07 PKR 297

13.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$4.05 PKR 1,124

52.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$1.76 PKR 488

72.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$5.30 PKR 1,470

15.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.16 PKR 321

5.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.57 PKR 158

-3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.78 PKR 215

25.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.49 PKR 136

20.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.1

$0.29 PKR 80.7

17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.32 PKR 89.6

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.29 PKR 81.5

34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.42 PKR 116

2.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.47 PKR 407

-14.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.10 PKR 304

20.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.46 PKR 682

0.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.35 PKR 651

-23.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.17 PKR 46.38

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,273

$10.71 PKR 2,969

-23.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.29 PKR 358

-42.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.42 PKR 116

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.59 PKR 441

38.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.22 PKR 337

9.02%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$20.0K PKR 5.5M

-9.60%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

14.13%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$104 PKR 28.9K

-0.61%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,629

$5.61 PKR 1,555

4.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,564

$15.95 PKR 4,420

-19.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,632

$7.12 PKR 1,973

185.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,173

$5.27 PKR 1,461

254.08%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.91 PKR 1,362

-10.39%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$19.84 PKR 5,500

153.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

$275 PKR 76.1K

400.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,106

$14.48 PKR 4,013

2.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,070

$16.85 PKR 4,669

29.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$26.57 PKR 7,366

145.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,925

$21.37 PKR 5,923

67.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$49.52 PKR 13.7K

124.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$32.08 PKR 8,892

120.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$108 PKR 29.9K

174.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$66.7 PKR 18.5K

169.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$155 PKR 43.0K

17.22%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sialkot: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $49.52 in Sialkot. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 17% 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: $14.00 in Karachi vs $7.00 in Sialkot for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $83.0 per month, with Sialkot 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 Sialkot: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Sialkot differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $359 including rent). Sialkot is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 17% 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: $111 in Karachi versus $49.52 in Sialkot. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $359 in Sialkot – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sialkot runs roughly 31% 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 Sialkot 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 Sialkot gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.