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: $414 in Multan versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $613 in Multan versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $812 in Multan versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Multan costs roughly 13% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Multan 69% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 PKR 606

$2.14 PKR 595

1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.58 PKR 2,386

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-31.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 PKR 1,443

$4.06 PKR 1,129

27.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.99 PKR 553

-13.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 PKR 891

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-38.70%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 398

$1.89 PKR 525

-24.34%

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

$0.28 PKR 77.0

$0.36 PKR 101

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.9

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.83 PKR 231

-30.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.58 PKR 161

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.13 PKR 315

-7.96%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.21 PKR 337

-10.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 PKR 1,371

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-21.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 716

$3.19 PKR 887

-19.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 842

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-38.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 282

$1.03 PKR 287

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.58 PKR 162

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.93 PKR 258

-37.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.56 PKR 156

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.39 PKR 108

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.51 PKR 141

-15.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.38 PKR 107

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 99.4

$0.43 PKR 120

-16.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.85 PKR 515

$1.28 PKR 356

44.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 PKR 428

$1.26 PKR 351

22.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 PKR 539

$2.08 PKR 580

-6.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 549

$2.08 PKR 580

-5.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.97

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.26 PKR 2,019

$6.33 PKR 1,762

14.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.74 PKR 205

39.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.61 PKR 171

-49.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 PKR 384

$1.79 PKR 497

-22.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 266

$0.92 PKR 256

3.26%

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

$22.4K PKR 6.2M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

36.63%

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

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-10.42%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-22.26%

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

$4.84 PKR 1,347

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-1.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 PKR 3,790

$13.63 PKR 3,791

-0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.96 PKR 4,997

$15.55 PKR 4,325

15.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.52 PKR 3,484

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-12.63%

Cinema Ticket

$2.64 PKR 734

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-39.03%

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

$36.00 PKR 10.0K

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-37.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,755 PKR 488.2K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

25.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.34 PKR 4,547

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-7.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.87 PKR 7,752

$25.51 PKR 7,097

9.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

10.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.24 PKR 8,135

$35.86 PKR 9,975

-18.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.3 PKR 23.7K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-29.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.6 PKR 16.3K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-20.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 PKR 49.4K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-44.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-30.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 PKR 50.0K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-0.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.43

17.8

-2.08%

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

Last update for Multan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $85.3 in Multan and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 1% 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: $9.00 in Multan vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $80.0 vs $97.0 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 15% in total monthly costs ($414 vs $477 including rent). Multan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karachi earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $85.3 in Multan versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $414 per month in Multan versus $477 in Karachi – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Multan runs roughly 15% 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 Multan 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 Multan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.