😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in Multan versus $330 in Thoothukudi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $730 in Multan versus $560 in Thoothukudi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $938 in Multan versus $790 in Thoothukudi.
🌍Living in Multan is roughly 58% more expensive than in Thoothukudi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Multan62% lower, Thoothukudi76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.47PKR 684
$1.21₹115
104.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.93PKR 3,029
$8.66₹827
26.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.43PKR 1,504
$3.60₹344
50.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78PKR 770
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35PKR 1,481
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.77PKR 489
$1.29₹123
37.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28PKR 77.2
$0.39₹37.56
-28.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16PKR 45.49
$0.12₹11.60
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.69₹161
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.06₹196
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68PKR 188
$0.60₹57.5
13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.38₹36.32
42.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02PKR 282
$0.60₹57.7
70.00%
Eggs
$1.10PKR 304
$0.69₹65.8
59.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.93PKR 1,920
$3.27₹313
111.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.39PKR 661
$2.69₹257
-11.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.39PKR 1,215
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$0.94PKR 262
$1.95₹187
-51.79%
Banana(1kg)
$0.52PKR 143
$0.73₹69.3
-28.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67PKR 185
$1.03₹98.7
-34.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55PKR 151
$0.46₹44.25
19.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 109
$0.36₹34.64
8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.52₹49.48
-15.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47PKR 130
$0.56₹54.0
-16.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 104
$0.30₹28.52
23.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.89PKR 525
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91PKR 805
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12PKR 587
$5.20₹497
-59.23%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.95₹759
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.12₹107
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51₹144
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.01₹288
-
🚌 Getting Around
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.57
$0.51₹48.92
-64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.35PKR 2,037
$15.90₹1,519
-53.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47PKR 407
$0.50₹48.13
194.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 105
$0.13₹12.85
192.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.92PKR 256
$1.17₹112
-21.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09PKR 301
$1.11₹106
-1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KPKR 6.9M
$10.7K₹1.0M
131.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KPKR 7.3M
$14.9K₹1.4M
78.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144PKR 39.9K
$32.65₹3,120
341.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.06PKR 1,402
$3.12₹299
62.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.73PKR 5,188
$7.08₹677
164.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.91PKR 6,624
$19.06₹1,821
25.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.67PKR 1,017
$1.89₹180
94.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.29PKR 1,188
$1.58₹151
171.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.12PKR 11.9K
$41.76₹3,990
3.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,023PKR 283.3K
$1,892₹180.7K
-45.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.17PKR 5,034
$26.09₹2,493
-30.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.14PKR 5,301
$18.05₹1,724
6.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3PKR 25.3K
$19.94₹1,905
357.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.45PKR 7,050
$26.80₹2,561
-5.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$144PKR 40.0K
$99.4₹9,499
45.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$92.3PKR 25.6K
$58.4₹5,581
58.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219PKR 60.6K
$376₹35.9K
-41.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$148PKR 40.9K
$209₹20.0K
-29.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Multan
Thoothukudi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$180PKR 49.9K
$284₹27.1K
-36.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13
8.6
51.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Multan: September 8, 2026
Last update for Thoothukudi: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $144 in Multan and $99.4 in Thoothukudi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thoothukudi pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Multan vs $9.00 in Thoothukudi. Groceries flip the comparison at $88.0 vs $91.0, with Multan 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
Multan vs Thoothukudi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thoothukudi cheaper than Multan?
Thoothukudi is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Multan or Thoothukudi?
On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Thoothukudi. 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: $144 in Multan versus $99.4 in Thoothukudi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $43.12 in Multan versus $41.76 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 in Thoothukudi?
Shoppers in Multan pay roughly 4% 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 in 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 58% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.