Cost of Living Comparison Between Multan and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Multan and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $521 in Multan versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $733 in Multan versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $945 in Multan versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Multan is roughly 14% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Multan 62% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 717

$2.20 PKR 611

17.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PKR 3,024

$14.33 PKR 3,973

-23.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 PKR 1,540

$5.27 PKR 1,462

5.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 PKR 733

$2.14 PKR 593

23.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,483

$7.36 PKR 2,039

-27.31%

Cappuccino

$1.87 PKR 519

$2.20 PKR 610

-15.00%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.9

$0.33 PKR 92.3

-15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 50.9

$0.23 PKR 63.3

-21.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.89 PKR 248

-20.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.52 PKR 145

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.24 PKR 345

-13.71%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 318

$1.21 PKR 335

-4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 PKR 2,006

$6.19 PKR 1,715

16.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.37 PKR 657

$3.03 PKR 841

-21.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 PKR 1,184

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-30.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.22 PKR 339

-25.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.55 PKR 153

-12.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 PKR 196

$0.98 PKR 272

-27.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 148

$0.59 PKR 164

-8.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.34 PKR 95.1

14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.31 PKR 85.2

38.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.39 PKR 109

28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.43 PKR 121

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.83 PKR 507

$1.25 PKR 346

46.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 PKR 804

$2.48 PKR 687

16.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.79 PKR 496

22.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.6

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.06 PKR 1,957

$8.20 PKR 2,273

-13.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PKR 394

$0.74 PKR 205

91.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.70 PKR 194

-47.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 PKR 257

$2.20 PKR 609

-57.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 PKR 301

$1.33 PKR 369

-18.05%

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

$25.1K PKR 6.9M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

38.85%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-4.85%

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

$144 PKR 39.9K

$104 PKR 28.8K

38.80%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,358

$5.88 PKR 1,629

-16.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.48 PKR 5,400

$12.86 PKR 3,564

51.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.31 PKR 6,738

$20.32 PKR 5,632

19.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.55 PKR 983

$18.66 PKR 5,173

-80.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.46 PKR 1,236

$4.40 PKR 1,221

1.36%

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

$41.85 PKR 11.6K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-16.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,010 PKR 279.8K

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

-26.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.34 PKR 5,082

$14.81 PKR 4,106

23.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.99 PKR 5,264

$21.90 PKR 6,070

-13.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 PKR 25.4K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

40.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.07 PKR 7,226

$35.81 PKR 9,925

-27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 PKR 39.7K

$111 PKR 30.8K

28.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.6 PKR 26.0K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

32.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 PKR 59.4K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-27.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 PKR 40.7K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-18.46%

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)

$186 PKR 51.6K

$182 PKR 50.4K

2.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

0.93%

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

Last update for Multan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $143 in Multan and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Multan 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: $11.00 in Multan vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $89.0 vs $101 per month, with Multan 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

Multan vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Multan and Karachi differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($521 vs $457 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Multan, 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: $143 in Multan versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $521 per month in Multan versus $457 in Karachi – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 16% less than in Multan. 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 14% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.