Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Multan and Varanasi

For one person, living is cheaper in Varanasi: $293 a month against $561 in Multan, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Multan, Pakistan
Varanasi, India
Multan
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$561
/mo nomad
Varanasi
🇮🇳 India
$293
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Multan and in Varanasi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Multan and in Varanasi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $561 in Multan versus $293 in Varanasi.

  • Multan $561
  • Varanasi $293

Estimated couple costs with rent: $773 in Multan versus $483 in Varanasi.

  • Multan $773
  • Varanasi $483

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $986 in Multan versus $672 in Varanasi.

  • Multan $986
  • Varanasi $672

Living in Multan is roughly 91% more expensive than in Varanasi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Multan 59% lower, Varanasi 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.56 PKR 707
$1.89 ₹179
35.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.05 PKR 3,053
$8.02 ₹760
37.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 PKR 1,467
$3.21 ₹304
65.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.78 PKR 768
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 PKR 1,455
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.80 PKR 496
$1.65 ₹156
9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 PKR 77.1
$0.41 ₹38.77
-31.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 PKR 54.2
$0.11 ₹10.11
81.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.62 ₹153
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.12 ₹201
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 PKR 191
$0.66 ₹62.7
4.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 PKR 151
$0.29 ₹27.25
89.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 284
$0.54 ₹50.7
90.74%
Eggs
$1.09 PKR 302
$0.83 ₹78.6
31.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.66 PKR 1,841
$3.28 ₹310
103.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.42 PKR 669
$2.13 ₹202
13.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.46 PKR 1,234
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$0.93 PKR 257
$1.43 ₹135
-34.97%
Banana (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 136
$0.65 ₹61.3
-24.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.67 PKR 186
$0.89 ₹84.5
-24.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.62 PKR 171
$0.35 ₹32.74
77.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.40 PKR 110
$0.26 ₹24.69
53.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 PKR 116
$0.24 ₹22.73
75.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 PKR 136
$0.46 ₹43.31
6.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 PKR 96.6
$0.28 ₹26.59
25.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.88 PKR 519
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 PKR 790
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21 PKR 610
$3.20 ₹303
-30.94%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.83 ₹553
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.61 ₹153
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.98 ₹187
-
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.24 ₹402
-
🚌 Getting Around
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 43.10
$0.55 ₹52.5
-70.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.46 PKR 2,337
$9.71 ₹920
-12.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 PKR 394
$0.24 ₹22.72
495.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 PKR 95.6
$0.12 ₹10.98
191.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 PKR 261
$1.04 ₹98.8
-9.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 PKR 356
$1.05 ₹99.9
22.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K PKR 6.9M
$11.3K ₹1.1M
122.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K PKR 6.5M
$22.2K ₹2.1M
6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 PKR 40.4K
$12.68 ₹1,202
1053.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.97 PKR 1,373
$3.63 ₹344
36.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.24 PKR 5,319
$6.84 ₹648
181.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.14 PKR 6,672
$12.72 ₹1,205
89.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.57 PKR 987
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.37 PKR 1,208
$2.91 ₹275
50.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$41.84 PKR 11.6K
$38.77 ₹3,673
7.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,017 PKR 281.0K
$1,088 ₹103.1K
-6.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.25 PKR 5,043
$23.62 ₹2,238
-22.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.03 PKR 5,261
$25.11 ₹2,379
-24.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.3 PKR 25.8K
$38.81 ₹3,676
140.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.72 PKR 7,109
$25.32 ₹2,398
1.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$189 PKR 52.1K
$114 ₹10.8K
65.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 PKR 35.2K
$46.99 ₹4,452
171.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 PKR 66.1K
$200 ₹18.9K
19.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 PKR 48.2K
$140 ₹13.3K
24.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$760 PKR 210.0K
$560 ₹53.0K
35.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$526 PKR 145.4K
$340 ₹32.2K
54.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Multan
Varanasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$185 PKR 51.1K
$575 ₹54.4K
-67.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13
8.53
52.40%

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

Last update for Multan: November 2, 2026

Last update for Varanasi: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Multan
$170
Varanasi
$23 86.4% $147
Accommodation & Living
Multan
$127
Varanasi
$47 63.1% $80
Groceries & Markets
Multan
$88
Varanasi
$82 6.8% $6
Clothing & Footwear
Multan
$70
Varanasi
$51 27.8% $20
Eating Out
Multan
$60
Varanasi
$59 1.5% $0.9
Sport & Entertainment
Multan
$33
Varanasi
$19 43.6% $14
Getting Around
Multan
$12
Varanasi
$13 4.3% $0.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $189 in Multan and $114 in Varanasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varanasi pays about 3.1 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11 in Multan vs $8 in Varanasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $88 vs $82 per month, with Varanasi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Multan
🇮🇳 Varanasi
🕒 Local time
13:16 1:16 PM
13:46 1:46 PM
30 min ahead of Multan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,871,843
3,100,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 276 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.23 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 94.73 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Multan Varanasi 1,260 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Multan
  • Varanasi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Varanasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Varanasi cheaper than Multan?
Varanasi is about 48% cheaper overall, especially in clothing, leisure, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Multan or Varanasi?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Multan. 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 Varanasi?
Rent for a central apartment: $189 in Multan versus $114 in Varanasi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $42 in Multan versus $39 in Varanasi. 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 Varanasi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Multan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,200 enough for either Multan or Varanasi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Varanasi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Multan or Varanasi more family-friendly?
For families, Varanasi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Multan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

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