Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $511 in Lahore versus $475 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $783 in Lahore versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,055 in Lahore versus $995 in Karachi.

Living in Lahore is roughly 8% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Karachi 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 708

$2.11 PKR 584

21.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.52 PKR 4,022

$14.17 PKR 3,924

2.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PKR 1,563

$5.56 PKR 1,540

1.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

$2.13 PKR 591

69.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.50 PKR 1,524

$7.18 PKR 1,988

-23.40%

Cappuccino

$2.66 PKR 738

$2.29 PKR 633

16.16%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.38 PKR 106

10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.24 PKR 66.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.85 PKR 237

7.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.57 PKR 157

19.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.22 PKR 337

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.22 PKR 339

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.37 PKR 1,764

$6.08 PKR 1,684

4.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$3.14 PKR 870

-20.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 PKR 1,331

$6.25 PKR 1,732

-23.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.22 PKR 339

-4.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.59 PKR 163

10.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.99 PKR 274

-9.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.56 PKR 154

10.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.5

$0.35 PKR 95.7

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.33 PKR 91.5

6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.36 PKR 101

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.40 PKR 111

-10.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 295

$1.29 PKR 357

-17.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 PKR 178

$1.33 PKR 367

-51.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

$2.50 PKR 692

-30.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 PKR 590

$1.79 PKR 496

18.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.22

$0.30 PKR 83.7

-43.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.48 PKR 1,518

$7.95 PKR 2,201

-31.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.70 PKR 195

31.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.73 PKR 203

1.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PKR 508

$2.12 PKR 587

-13.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.34 PKR 371

-4.48%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-1.44%

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

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

$27.2K PKR 7.5M

-1.28%

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

$129 PKR 35.6K

$110 PKR 30.5K

16.86%

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

$5.08 PKR 1,408

$5.71 PKR 1,582

-11.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 PKR 4,496

$13.12 PKR 3,634

23.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.31 PKR 5,905

$21.28 PKR 5,896

0.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.03 PKR 3,056

$18.76 PKR 5,198

-41.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PKR 1,217

$4.20 PKR 1,164

4.52%

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

$45.79 PKR 12.7K

$50.3 PKR 13.9K

-9.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

$1,589 PKR 440.2K

23.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,795

$15.49 PKR 4,290

11.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.36 PKR 7,302

$22.03 PKR 6,104

19.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

$67.7 PKR 18.7K

9.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.11 PKR 8,619

$38.00 PKR 10.5K

-18.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$108 PKR 29.8K

48.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 PKR 22.9K

$71.6 PKR 19.8K

15.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.7K

$323 PKR 89.4K

3.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$184 PKR 51.0K

7.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$781 PKR 216.3K

$1,036 PKR 287.0K

-24.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.3K

$470 PKR 130.2K

27.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 PKR 52.7K

$182 PKR 50.4K

4.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

12.88

10.87%

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

Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026

Last update for Karachi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Lahore and $108 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 5% 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: $15.00 in Lahore vs $14.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $96.0 vs $101, with Lahore 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

Lahore vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Karachi differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($511 vs $475 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Lahore, 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: $159 in Lahore versus $108 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $511 per month in Lahore versus $475 in Karachi – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 45% less than in Lahore. 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 8% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.