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: $401 in Pakpattan versus $484 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $595 in Pakpattan versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $789 in Pakpattan versus $987 in Karachi.

Living in Pakpattan costs roughly 17% 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

$2.10 PKR 584

$2.06 PKR 572

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.62 PKR 2,392

$12.56 PKR 3,487

-31.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.23 PKR 1,452

$3.99 PKR 1,108

31.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.93 PKR 537

-10.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 PKR 869

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-40.61%

Cappuccino

$1.37 PKR 379

$1.81 PKR 502

-24.31%

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

$0.30 PKR 83.3

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.6

$0.21 PKR 58.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.79 PKR 220

-26.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.58 PKR 161

-3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.18 PKR 328

-11.86%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.15 PKR 321

-6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 PKR 1,371

$6.41 PKR 1,781

-22.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.47 PKR 685

$3.12 PKR 867

-20.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 837

$5.09 PKR 1,413

-40.67%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.03 PKR 286

-4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 185

$0.60 PKR 166

11.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.92 PKR 257

-38.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.57 PKR 159

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.35 PKR 98.2

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.50 PKR 140

-16.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.36 PKR 99.8

52.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.41 PKR 113

-7.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.80 PKR 499

$1.25 PKR 346

44.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 431

$1.32 PKR 367

17.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 PKR 534

$2.06 PKR 572

-6.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.16 PKR 599

-7.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.75

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-51.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.97 PKR 1,934

$6.43 PKR 1,785

8.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 298

$0.74 PKR 206

44.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.61 PKR 170

-19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 PKR 387

$1.74 PKR 484

-20.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.94 PKR 261

7.45%

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

$22.0K PKR 6.1M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

31.42%

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

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-11.59%

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

$105 PKR 29.2K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-21.66%

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

$4.89 PKR 1,359

$5.00 PKR 1,388

-2.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.48 PKR 3,744

$13.28 PKR 3,689

1.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.57 PKR 3,492

$15.87 PKR 4,406

-20.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-59.37%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 PKR 751

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-37.79%

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

$36.18 PKR 10.0K

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

-38.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,743 PKR 484.1K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

28.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,674

$17.71 PKR 4,919

-4.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.41 PKR 7,611

$25.79 PKR 7,162

6.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

8.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.01 PKR 8,055

$35.84 PKR 9,953

-19.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

$118 PKR 32.8K

-37.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.5K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

-29.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.3K

$319 PKR 88.6K

-47.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.6K

$181 PKR 50.3K

-41.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$802 PKR 222.7K

$932 PKR 258.7K

-13.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 PKR 133.4K

$433 PKR 120.3K

10.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$177 PKR 49.1K

-40.12%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Pakpattan and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 67% 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 $13.00 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 21% in total monthly costs ($401 vs $484 including rent). Pakpattan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 67% 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: $73.9 in Pakpattan versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $401 per month in Pakpattan versus $484 in Karachi – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 8% 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 21% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.