Cost of Living Comparison Between Mianwali and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mianwali and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $449 in Mianwali versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Mianwali versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $865 in Mianwali versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Mianwali costs roughly 6% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mianwali 66% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 583

$2.14 PKR 595

-2.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.90 PKR 3,868

$12.44 PKR 3,461

11.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.25 PKR 1,182

$4.06 PKR 1,129

4.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.99 PKR 553

41.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 PKR 1,037

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-28.54%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PKR 638

$1.89 PKR 525

21.16%

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

$0.21 PKR 57.1

$0.36 PKR 101

-41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.83 PKR 231

-22.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 171

$0.58 PKR 161

6.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 249

$1.13 PKR 315

-20.35%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.21 PKR 337

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,677

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-4.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 PKR 812

$3.19 PKR 887

-8.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.58 PKR 1,274

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-6.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 281

$1.03 PKR 287

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.58 PKR 162

8.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.93 PKR 258

-38.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.56 PKR 156

-60.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.39 PKR 108

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.51 PKR 141

-29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.38 PKR 107

15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.43 PKR 120

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 259

$1.28 PKR 356

-27.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 PKR 151

$1.26 PKR 351

-57.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 298

$2.08 PKR 580

-48.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 552

$2.08 PKR 580

-4.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.16 PKR 1,991

$6.33 PKR 1,762

13.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.74 PKR 205

-6.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.61 PKR 171

-19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 479

$1.79 PKR 497

-3.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.92 PKR 256

-2.17%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

6.84%

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

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-3.20%

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

$139 PKR 38.6K

$132 PKR 36.8K

5.01%

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

$3.58 PKR 995

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-26.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.98 PKR 4,724

$13.63 PKR 3,791

24.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,429

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-20.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,684

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-57.78%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,215

$4.33 PKR 1,203

0.92%

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

$34.38 PKR 9,564

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-40.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,244 PKR 346.0K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-11.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.32 PKR 4,261

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-13.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.60 PKR 6,286

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-11.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 PKR 20.1K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

12.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.15 PKR 8,388

$35.86 PKR 9,976

-15.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-37.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-29.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.1K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-47.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.9K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-40.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$860 PKR 239.2K

$985 PKR 273.9K

-12.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$577 PKR 160.5K

$457 PKR 127.3K

26.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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 Mianwali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.2 in Mianwali and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Mianwali vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $88.0 vs $97.0, with Mianwali 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

Mianwali vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mianwali and Karachi differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($449 vs $477 including rent). Mianwali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $674 in Mianwali and $715 in Karachi 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: $76.2 in Mianwali versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $449 per month in Mianwali versus $477 in Karachi – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mianwali runs roughly 13% 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 Mianwali 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 Mianwali 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.