😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $416 in Multan versus $345 in Thoothukudi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in Multan versus $583 in Thoothukudi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $819 in Multan versus $821 in Thoothukudi.
😐Living in Multan is roughly 21% more expensive than Thoothukudi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Multan69% lower, Thoothukudi74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11PKR 586
$0.91₹87.0
131.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.73PKR 2,427
$9.02₹860
-3.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16PKR 1,435
$4.55₹434
13.41%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75PKR 487
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10PKR 862
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.38PKR 382
$1.46₹139
-5.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 84.5
$0.46₹44.12
-34.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17PKR 47.88
$0.19₹17.81
-10.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.78₹169
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.98₹284
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64PKR 177
$0.69₹65.9
-7.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.43₹40.83
32.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$0.60₹56.8
78.33%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 301
$0.80₹76.7
35.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.76PKR 1,324
$3.63₹346
31.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.60PKR 722
$3.07₹293
-15.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.18PKR 885
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 284
$2.25₹215
-54.67%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68PKR 188
$0.75₹71.7
-9.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58PKR 161
$1.08₹103
-46.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 146
$0.51₹48.29
1.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 113
$0.53₹50.1
-22.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.59₹56.3
-27.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61PKR 169
$0.73₹69.6
-16.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 107
$0.35₹33.75
11.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.81PKR 503
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60PKR 446
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85PKR 514
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 529
$4.63₹442
-58.96%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.10₹772
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.27₹121
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.65₹157
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.44₹328
-
🚌 Getting Around
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.88
$0.60₹57.4
-71.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.05PKR 1,960
$17.46₹1,665
-59.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05PKR 291
$0.54₹51.2
94.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33PKR 91.9
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.44PKR 402
$1.13₹108
27.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01PKR 282
$1.17₹112
-13.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1KPKR 6.1M
$11.9K₹1.1M
86.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
$16.4K₹1.6M
34.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.8K
$28.19₹2,688
267.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.93PKR 1,370
$3.15₹300
56.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.65PKR 3,794
$6.86₹654
98.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.90PKR 4,977
$21.27₹2,028
-15.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.44PKR 3,458
$2.13₹203
484.04%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71PKR 753
$1.71₹163
58.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.97PKR 9,999
$46.73₹4,455
-23.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,797PKR 499.7K
$2,364₹225.4K
-23.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.62PKR 4,621
$26.61₹2,537
-37.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.60PKR 7,672
$20.07₹1,913
37.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.9PKR 19.1K
$21.70₹2,069
217.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.04PKR 8,073
$25.15₹2,398
15.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$84.2PKR 23.4K
$107₹10.2K
-21.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$57.5PKR 16.0K
$64.3₹6,135
-10.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$177PKR 49.3K
$410₹39.1K
-56.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$125PKR 34.6K
$236₹22.5K
-47.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$180PKR 50.0K
$277₹26.4K
-35.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.43
8.5
105.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Multan: June 9, 2026
Last update for Thoothukudi: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $84.2 in Multan and $107 in Thoothukudi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thoothukudi pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Multan vs $9.00 in Thoothukudi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $81.0 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 Thoothukudi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thoothukudi cheaper than Multan?
Thoothukudi is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Multan or Thoothukudi?
On paper, Thoothukudi earns 54% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Multan and Thoothukudi?
Rent for a central apartment: $84.2 in Multan versus $107 in Thoothukudi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $35.97 in Multan versus $46.73 in Thoothukudi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Multan and Thoothukudi?
Shoppers in Multan pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,200 enough for either Multan or Thoothukudi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Thoothukudi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Multan or Thoothukudi?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Thoothukudi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.