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: $492 in Lahore versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Lahore is roughly 3% more expensive than Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$2.14 PKR 595

-2.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$12.44 PKR 3,461

14.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$4.06 PKR 1,129

5.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

$1.99 PKR 553

39.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-30.65%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$1.89 PKR 525

23.81%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.36 PKR 101

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.83 PKR 231

7.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.58 PKR 161

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.13 PKR 315

3.54%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.21 PKR 337

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-2.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$3.19 PKR 887

-4.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-9.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.58 PKR 162

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.93 PKR 258

-35.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.56 PKR 156

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.39 PKR 108

-17.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.51 PKR 141

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.38 PKR 107

15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.43 PKR 120

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.28 PKR 356

-27.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$1.26 PKR 351

-56.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

$2.08 PKR 580

-46.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$2.08 PKR 580

-4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-44.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$6.33 PKR 1,762

10.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.74 PKR 205

-5.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.61 PKR 171

-19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.79 PKR 497

-0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.92 PKR 256

-1.09%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

5.85%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-2.85%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$132 PKR 36.8K

4.07%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$4.90 PKR 1,362

14.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

$13.63 PKR 3,791

24.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-11.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-60.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.33 PKR 1,203

0.23%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,868

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-38.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-11.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-15.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-11.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

13.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

$35.86 PKR 9,975

-16.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-2.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

3.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-11.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$182 PKR 50.6K

3.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

$985 PKR 273.9K

-14.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

$457 PKR 127.2K

34.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

$181 PKR 50.2K

2.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

17.8

11.69%

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

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 2% 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 Lahore vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $93.0 vs $97.0, 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 3% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $477 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lahore pays 2% more on average, 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: $118 in Lahore versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $492 per month in Lahore versus $477 in Karachi – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 10% 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 3% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.