Cost of Living Comparison Between Sheikhupura and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sheikhupura and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $452 in Sheikhupura versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Sheikhupura versus $731 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $887 in Sheikhupura versus $979 in Karachi.

Living in Sheikhupura costs roughly 7% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sheikhupura 66% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 PKR 772

$2.06 PKR 572

34.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.03 PKR 3,895

$12.15 PKR 3,373

15.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.39 PKR 1,497

$4.00 PKR 1,111

34.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 499

$1.92 PKR 533

-6.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 PKR 1,099

$5.33 PKR 1,478

-25.70%

Cappuccino

$2.05 PKR 568

$1.85 PKR 513

10.81%

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.33 PKR 92.7

27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.84 PKR 232

-35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.58 PKR 162

-6.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$1.12 PKR 310

-7.14%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.17 PKR 325

3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PKR 1,711

$6.28 PKR 1,744

-1.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.75 PKR 487

$3.18 PKR 884

-44.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 PKR 799

$5.03 PKR 1,396

-42.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.05 PKR 291

-1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PKR 214

$0.59 PKR 165

30.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 251

$0.92 PKR 256

-1.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.54 PKR 149

1.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.35 PKR 98.2

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.47 PKR 130

21.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 84.8

$0.35 PKR 97.8

-11.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.44 PKR 121

-15.91%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 393

$1.29 PKR 358

10.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.27 PKR 353

-30.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PKR 540

$2.05 PKR 569

-4.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 PKR 575

$2.08 PKR 578

-0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.80

$0.36 PKR 100

-52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.99 PKR 1,939

$6.42 PKR 1,782

8.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.69 PKR 190

28.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.66 PKR 184

-34.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 798

$1.73 PKR 480

65.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.92 PKR 254

-2.17%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

28.54%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

5.90%

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

$113 PKR 31.5K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-14.48%

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

$5.46 PKR 1,516

$4.86 PKR 1,349

12.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.60 PKR 5,163

$13.62 PKR 3,779

36.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.62 PKR 3,502

$15.31 PKR 4,250

-17.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 PKR 1,638

$14.55 PKR 4,038

-59.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 PKR 1,163

$4.11 PKR 1,142

1.95%

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

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

3.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,088 PKR 302.1K

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

-21.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.69 PKR 6,021

$17.46 PKR 4,847

24.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.57 PKR 7,652

$25.90 PKR 7,188

6.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 PKR 24.1K

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

36.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.70 PKR 11.0K

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

9.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$119 PKR 33.0K

-37.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.0 PKR 14.2K

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

-32.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$318 PKR 88.2K

-47.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$185 PKR 51.3K

-41.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$859 PKR 238.3K

$912 PKR 253.2K

-5.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 PKR 147.4K

$442 PKR 122.5K

20.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.8

13.48%

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

Last update for Sheikhupura: July 27, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.0 in Sheikhupura and $119 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Sheikhupura vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $80.0 vs $97.0, with Sheikhupura cheaper for home cooking.

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

Sheikhupura vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sheikhupura and Karachi differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($452 vs $483 including rent). Sheikhupura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $678 in Sheikhupura and $725 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.0 in Sheikhupura versus $119 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $452 per month in Sheikhupura versus $483 in Karachi – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sheikhupura 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 $1,000 a month, though Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.