Cost of Living Comparison Between Lucknow and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lucknow and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $386 in Lucknow versus $475 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $592 in Lucknow versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $797 in Lucknow versus $995 in Karachi.

Living in Lucknow costs roughly 19% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lucknow 72% lower, Karachi 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 ₹181

$2.11 PKR 584

-10.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.38 ₹992

$14.17 PKR 3,924

-26.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.11 ₹297

$5.56 PKR 1,540

-44.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 PKR 591

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 PKR 1,988

Cappuccino

$1.59 ₹152

$2.29 PKR 633

-30.57%

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

$0.37 ₹35.65

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.26

$0.24 PKR 66.0

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 ₹156

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₹228

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 ₹71.1

$0.85 PKR 237

-12.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 ₹42.90

$0.57 PKR 157

-21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.59 ₹56.8

$1.22 PKR 337

-51.64%

Eggs

$1.01 ₹96.9

$1.22 PKR 339

-17.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.67 ₹351

$6.08 PKR 1,684

-39.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 ₹247

$3.14 PKR 870

-17.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 PKR 1,732

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ₹163

$1.22 PKR 339

40.16%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 ₹59.9

$0.59 PKR 163

6.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 ₹89.1

$0.99 PKR 274

-6.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 ₹48.53

$0.56 PKR 154

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 ₹28.38

$0.35 PKR 95.7

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₹42.56

$0.33 PKR 91.5

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 ₹43.12

$0.36 PKR 101

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₹30.78

$0.40 PKR 111

-20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 357

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 PKR 367

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 PKR 692

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 ₹484

$1.79 PKR 496

183.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 ₹823

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₹159

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₹246

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.72 ₹546

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ₹41.85

$0.30 PKR 83.7

46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.21 ₹498

$7.95 PKR 2,201

-34.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₹88.1

$0.70 PKR 195

31.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₹21.03

$0.73 PKR 203

-69.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₹114

$2.12 PKR 587

-43.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₹107

$1.34 PKR 371

-16.42%

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

$12.5K ₹1.2M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-30.77%

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

$22.1K ₹2.1M

$27.2K PKR 7.5M

-18.96%

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

$53.2 ₹5,080

$110 PKR 30.5K

-51.67%

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

$3.66 ₹350

$5.71 PKR 1,582

-35.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.78 ₹839

$13.12 PKR 3,634

-33.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.75 ₹1,505

$21.28 PKR 5,896

-25.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.97 ₹666

$18.76 PKR 5,198

-62.85%

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 ₹311

$4.20 PKR 1,164

-22.38%

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

$39.71 ₹3,794

$50.3 PKR 13.9K

-21.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,008 ₹96.3K

$1,589 PKR 440.2K

-36.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.50 ₹2,246

$15.49 PKR 4,290

51.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.67 ₹2,357

$22.03 PKR 6,104

11.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.15 ₹3,645

$67.7 PKR 18.7K

-43.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.32 ₹2,419

$38.00 PKR 10.5K

-33.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$129 ₹12.3K

$108 PKR 29.8K

19.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.4 ₹7,391

$71.6 PKR 19.8K

7.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$355 ₹33.9K

$323 PKR 89.4K

9.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₹16.5K

$184 PKR 51.0K

-5.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,300 ₹124.2K

$1,036 PKR 287.0K

25.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$551 ₹52.6K

$470 PKR 130.2K

17.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$339 ₹32.4K

$182 PKR 50.4K

86.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.53

12.88

-33.77%

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

Last update for Lucknow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Karachi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $129 in Lucknow and $108 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lucknow pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Lucknow vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $101 per month, with Lucknow 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

Lucknow vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lucknow and Karachi differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($386 vs $475 including rent). Lucknow is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 86% higher in Lucknow, 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: $129 in Lucknow versus $108 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $386 per month in Lucknow versus $475 in Karachi – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lucknow runs roughly 53% 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 Lucknow 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 Lucknow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.