Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakpattan and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakpattan and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Pakpattan versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $597 in Pakpattan versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $788 in Pakpattan versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Pakpattan costs roughly 15% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pakpattan 70% 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

$8.78 PKR 2,444

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-29.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 PKR 1,482

$4.06 PKR 1,129

31.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 479

$1.99 PKR 553

-13.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 PKR 901

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-37.93%

Cappuccino

$1.37 PKR 382

$1.89 PKR 525

-27.51%

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

$0.28 PKR 77.6

$0.36 PKR 101

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 48.64

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-26.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.83 PKR 231

-30.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.58 PKR 161

-3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.13 PKR 315

-7.08%

Eggs

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.21 PKR 337

-9.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.75 PKR 1,321

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-24.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 PKR 722

$3.19 PKR 887

-18.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.04 PKR 846

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-38.09%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.03 PKR 287

-5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.58 PKR 162

24.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.93 PKR 258

-36.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.56 PKR 156

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.39 PKR 108

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.51 PKR 141

-17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.38 PKR 107

47.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.43 PKR 120

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.84 PKR 513

$1.28 PKR 356

43.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PKR 453

$1.26 PKR 351

29.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 PKR 531

$2.08 PKR 580

-8.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 PKR 539

$2.08 PKR 580

-6.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.3

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.88 PKR 1,913

$6.33 PKR 1,762

8.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.74 PKR 205

39.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.61 PKR 171

-18.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 PKR 402

$1.79 PKR 497

-18.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PKR 281

$0.92 PKR 256

9.78%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

35.34%

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

$22.1K PKR 6.1M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-9.88%

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

$105 PKR 29.1K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-20.82%

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

$4.93 PKR 1,370

$4.90 PKR 1,362

0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.99 PKR 3,893

$13.63 PKR 3,791

2.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.40 PKR 3,448

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-20.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.87 PKR 1,633

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-59.04%

Cinema Ticket

$2.59 PKR 722

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-40.18%

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

$36.33 PKR 10.1K

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-37.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,751 PKR 487.0K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

24.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.49 PKR 4,588

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-6.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.39 PKR 7,618

$25.51 PKR 7,097

7.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 PKR 19.2K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

7.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.62 PKR 7,963

$35.86 PKR 9,976

-20.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.3 PKR 20.7K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-38.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-31.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.4K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-48.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-42.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,075 PKR 299.2K

$985 PKR 273.9K

9.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$457 PKR 127.3K

12.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-41.39%

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 Pakpattan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.3 in Pakpattan and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 71% 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 Pakpattan vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $79.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Pakpattan 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

Pakpattan vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pakpattan and Karachi differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($406 vs $477 including rent). Pakpattan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karachi earns 71% 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: $74.3 in Pakpattan versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Pakpattan versus $477 in Karachi – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 9% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Pakpattan 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 Pakpattan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.