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: $440 in Pakpattan versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $624 in Pakpattan versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $809 in Pakpattan versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Pakpattan costs roughly 4% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pakpattan 68% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.23 PKR 342

$2.20 PKR 612

-44.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.64 PKR 2,951

$14.33 PKR 3,976

-25.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 PKR 1,522

$5.27 PKR 1,463

4.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PKR 769

$2.14 PKR 594

29.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 PKR 1,423

$7.36 PKR 2,041

-30.30%

Cappuccino

$1.78 PKR 493

$2.20 PKR 610

-19.09%

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

$0.17 PKR 47.09

$0.33 PKR 92.4

-48.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.11 PKR 30.37

$0.23 PKR 63.4

-52.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.89 PKR 248

-29.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.52 PKR 145

-1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 245

$1.24 PKR 345

-29.03%

Eggs

$1.09 PKR 304

$1.21 PKR 335

-9.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.25 PKR 2,010

$6.19 PKR 1,716

17.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 680

$3.03 PKR 841

-19.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 PKR 972

$6.11 PKR 1,696

-42.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 246

$1.22 PKR 340

-27.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.55 PKR 153

-10.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 77.3

$0.98 PKR 272

-71.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.59 PKR 164

-8.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.34 PKR 95.2

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.31 PKR 85.3

38.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.39 PKR 109

25.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.43 PKR 121

-13.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.25 PKR 347

44.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.32 PKR 365

-9.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 PKR 782

$2.48 PKR 687

13.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 PKR 616

$1.79 PKR 496

24.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 47.78

$0.28 PKR 77.6

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.09 PKR 2,800

$8.20 PKR 2,275

23.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 PKR 391

$0.74 PKR 205

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.70 PKR 195

-45.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$2.20 PKR 609

-58.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PKR 281

$1.33 PKR 369

-24.06%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

38.54%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-3.49%

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

$147 PKR 40.7K

$104 PKR 28.8K

41.41%

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

$5.02 PKR 1,392

$5.88 PKR 1,631

-14.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.41 PKR 5,386

$12.86 PKR 3,567

50.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.09 PKR 4,187

$20.32 PKR 5,637

-25.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,177

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 PKR 1,228

$4.40 PKR 1,222

0.68%

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

$12.60 PKR 3,495

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-75.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,018 PKR 282.4K

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

-25.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.68 PKR 2,962

$14.81 PKR 4,109

-27.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.43 PKR 3,450

$21.90 PKR 6,076

-43.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.16 PKR 6,979

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

-61.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.25 PKR 3,953

$35.81 PKR 9,933

-60.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$125 PKR 34.6K

$111 PKR 30.8K

12.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.5 PKR 21.5K

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

9.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 PKR 70.6K

$297 PKR 82.3K

-14.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 PKR 40.6K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-18.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 233.9K

$976 PKR 270.9K

-13.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$483 PKR 133.9K

$467 PKR 129.6K

3.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-41.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

0.93%

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

Last update for Pakpattan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Pakpattan and $111 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: $11.00 in Pakpattan vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $83.0 vs $101 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 4% in total monthly costs ($440 vs $457 including rent). Pakpattan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 71% lower in Karachi. 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: $125 in Pakpattan versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $440 per month in Pakpattan versus $457 in Karachi – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 23% 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 4% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.