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: $509 in Sheikhupura versus $476 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $795 in Sheikhupura versus $742 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,081 in Sheikhupura versus $1,009 in Karachi.

Living in Sheikhupura is roughly 7% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sheikhupura 63% lower, Karachi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 PKR 1,013

$2.20 PKR 609

66.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.26 PKR 6,443

$13.66 PKR 3,784

70.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PKR 1,526

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-0.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 PKR 971

$2.15 PKR 594

63.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 PKR 1,873

$7.36 PKR 2,038

-8.15%

Cappuccino

$2.53 PKR 701

$2.23 PKR 617

13.45%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.3

$0.36 PKR 99.2

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 57.9

$0.26 PKR 72.4

-19.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 PKR 262

$0.85 PKR 234

11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 PKR 222

$0.55 PKR 154

45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.20 PKR 332

4.17%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.22 PKR 338

4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,670

$6.24 PKR 1,727

-3.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 884

$3.10 PKR 860

2.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.23 PKR 1,448

$6.36 PKR 1,760

-17.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.54 PKR 150

59.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.04 PKR 287

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.61 PKR 168

-13.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.9

$0.32 PKR 88.2

-18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.3

$0.30 PKR 84.4

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.28 PKR 76.6

$0.40 PKR 110

-30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.43 PKR 120

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.28 PKR 355

39.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.38 PKR 381

-10.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 718

$2.41 PKR 666

7.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 PKR 664

$1.82 PKR 503

31.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 PKR 57.0

$0.28 PKR 77.4

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.81 PKR 2,441

$8.08 PKR 2,239

9.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.74 PKR 205

67.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 204

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 456

$2.11 PKR 583

-21.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.32 PKR 366

-1.52%

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

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

21.49%

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

$24.4K PKR 6.7M

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

-10.26%

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

$104 PKR 28.7K

$109 PKR 30.2K

-4.83%

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

$5.78 PKR 1,602

$5.83 PKR 1,614

-0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.94 PKR 4,415

$12.96 PKR 3,589

22.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.98 PKR 4,148

$21.39 PKR 5,926

-29.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,213

Cinema Ticket

$4.44 PKR 1,229

$4.25 PKR 1,178

4.47%

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

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

51.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$997 PKR 276.1K

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

-36.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.52 PKR 6,791

$15.72 PKR 4,355

55.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 PKR 9,797

$22.45 PKR 6,217

57.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 PKR 26.9K

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

41.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.46 PKR 11.2K

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

4.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$145 PKR 40.1K

$111 PKR 30.8K

30.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.9 PKR 22.1K

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

9.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 PKR 71.5K

$327 PKR 90.5K

-20.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 PKR 39.3K

$181 PKR 50.1K

-21.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$968 PKR 268.1K

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

-4.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.1K

$484 PKR 134.1K

6.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $145 in Sheikhupura and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sheikhupura vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $102 per month, with Karachi 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

Sheikhupura vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sheikhupura and Karachi differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($509 vs $476 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $763 in Sheikhupura 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $145 in Sheikhupura versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $509 per month in Sheikhupura versus $476 in Karachi – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Sheikhupura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.