🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $369 in Pattoki versus $476 in Karachi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $552 in Pattoki versus $732 in Karachi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $734 in Pattoki versus $988 in Karachi.
🙂Living in Pattoki costs roughly 22% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pattoki72% lower, Karachi64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16PKR 604
$2.11PKR 587
2.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.96PKR 2,497
$12.18PKR 3,396
-26.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.45PKR 1,520
$4.21PKR 1,174
29.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80PKR 503
$1.92PKR 536
-6.25%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16PKR 881
$5.37PKR 1,496
-41.15%
Cappuccino
$1.41PKR 393
$1.81PKR 504
-22.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 84.6
$0.34PKR 94.2
-11.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16PKR 45.33
$0.21PKR 58.4
-23.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46PKR 129
$0.84PKR 235
-45.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.38PKR 106
$0.54PKR 152
-29.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.68PKR 191
$1.13PKR 315
-39.82%
Eggs
$0.72PKR 201
$1.16PKR 324
-37.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.44PKR 402
$6.36PKR 1,772
-77.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.47PKR 687
$3.18PKR 887
-22.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.17PKR 884
$5.13PKR 1,429
-38.21%
Apples(1kg)
$0.34PKR 93.7
$1.05PKR 292
-67.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.58PKR 163
-37.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.94PKR 261
-42.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.56PKR 157
-14.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34PKR 93.9
$0.39PKR 108
-12.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.47PKR 131
-23.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.36PKR 99.7
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.43PKR 121
-13.95%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.39PKR 387
$1.41PKR 392
-1.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$1.30PKR 363
-72.31%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93PKR 539
$2.05PKR 571
-5.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92PKR 536
$2.18PKR 608
-11.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.0
$0.36PKR 102
-47.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.20PKR 2,006
$6.54PKR 1,823
10.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07PKR 299
$0.74PKR 206
44.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52PKR 146
$0.62PKR 174
-16.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.39PKR 387
$1.76PKR 490
-21.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98PKR 274
$0.94PKR 263
4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KPKR 6.3M
$16.3KPKR 4.6M
38.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KPKR 6.2M
$25.0KPKR 7.0M
-11.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105PKR 29.3K
$137PKR 38.3K
-23.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.76PKR 1,328
$4.99PKR 1,390
-4.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.72PKR 3,823
$13.58PKR 3,787
1.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.42PKR 3,464
$15.81PKR 4,408
-21.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.77PKR 1,610
$14.27PKR 3,978
-59.57%
Cinema Ticket
$2.58PKR 718
$4.29PKR 1,195
-39.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.97PKR 10.3K
$58.8PKR 16.4K
-37.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,738PKR 484.4K
$1,373PKR 382.8K
26.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.44PKR 4,582
$17.85PKR 4,976
-7.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.81PKR 7,752
$25.82PKR 7,197
7.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.3PKR 19.3K
$64.9PKR 18.1K
6.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.49PKR 8,222
$36.34PKR 10.1K
-18.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.5PKR 21.0K
$120PKR 33.6K
-37.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.6PKR 14.4K
$75.1PKR 20.9K
-31.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$165PKR 46.1K
$321PKR 89.5K
-48.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107PKR 29.8K
$183PKR 50.9K
-41.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$874PKR 243.6K
$751PKR 209.3K
16.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$563PKR 157.1K
$465PKR 129.7K
21.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattoki
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$167PKR 46.6K
-
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 Pattoki: April 27, 2026
Last update for Karachi: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.5 in Pattoki and $120 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Pattoki vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $56.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Pattoki 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
Pattoki vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pattoki and Karachi?
Pattoki and Karachi differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($369 vs $476 including rent). Pattoki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Pattoki compared to Karachi?
You'd need roughly $554 in Pattoki and $714 in Karachi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Pattoki and Karachi?
Rent for a central apartment: $75.5 in Pattoki versus $120 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Pattoki or Karachi?
All in, you'll spend $369 per month in Pattoki versus $476 in Karachi – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Pattoki and Karachi?
A monthly transit pass in Pattoki runs roughly 10% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $1,000 go in Pattoki vs Karachi?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pattoki gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Pattoki and Karachi?
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.
Where should expats move: Pattoki or Karachi?
Expats usually find Pattoki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.