Cost of Living Comparison Between Varanasi and Multan Cost of Living Comparison Between Varanasi and Multan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $310 in Varanasi versus $416 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $514 in Varanasi versus $618 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $717 in Varanasi versus $819 in Multan.

Living in Varanasi costs roughly 25% less than in Multan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Varanasi 77% lower, Multan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.31 ₹220

$2.11 PKR 586

9.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.68 ₹825

$8.73 PKR 2,427

-0.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 ₹330

$5.16 PKR 1,436

-32.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 487

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 PKR 862

Cappuccino

$1.55 ₹147

$1.38 PKR 382

12.32%

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

$0.33 ₹31.70

$0.30 PKR 84.5

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.84

$0.17 PKR 47.89

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 ₹168

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₹217

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 ₹65.8

$0.64 PKR 177

7.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₹37.32

$0.57 PKR 158

-31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.52 ₹49.63

$1.07 PKR 298

-51.40%

Eggs

$0.90 ₹85.6

$1.08 PKR 301

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.58 ₹340

$4.76 PKR 1,324

-24.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 ₹246

$2.60 PKR 722

-0.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 885

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 ₹149

$1.02 PKR 284

53.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 ₹62.5

$0.68 PKR 188

-2.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 ₹88.4

$0.58 PKR 161

60.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 ₹36.36

$0.52 PKR 146

-26.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 ₹25.42

$0.41 PKR 113

-34.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.25 ₹23.53

$0.43 PKR 119

-41.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ₹33.01

$0.61 PKR 169

-42.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₹27.46

$0.39 PKR 108

-25.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 503

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 PKR 446

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 PKR 515

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₹275

$1.90 PKR 529

52.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ₹538

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₹159

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₹254

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.52 ₹430

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₹52.5

$0.17 PKR 46.88

223.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.59 ₹1,007

$7.05 PKR 1,960

50.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.22 ₹20.93

$1.05 PKR 291

-79.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₹10.23

$0.33 PKR 91.9

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 ₹107

$1.44 PKR 402

-21.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₹113

$1.01 PKR 282

17.82%

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

$13.7K ₹1.3M

$22.1K PKR 6.1M

-37.96%

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

$20.8K ₹2.0M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-6.14%

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

$13.88 ₹1,320

$104 PKR 28.8K

-86.61%

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

$3.65 ₹347

$4.93 PKR 1,370

-25.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.28 ₹502

$13.65 PKR 3,794

-61.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.64 ₹1,202

$17.90 PKR 4,977

-29.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 ₹555

$12.44 PKR 3,458

-53.14%

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 ₹270

$2.71 PKR 754

4.80%

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

$57.8 ₹5,493

$35.97 PKR 10,000

60.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$926 ₹88.1K

$1,797 PKR 499.7K

-48.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.02 ₹2,189

$16.62 PKR 4,621

38.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.76 ₹2,355

$27.60 PKR 7,673

-10.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.46 ₹3,847

$68.9 PKR 19.2K

-41.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.47 ₹2,423

$29.04 PKR 8,074

-12.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$125 ₹11.9K

$84.2 PKR 23.4K

49.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.7 ₹5,011

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

-8.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₹23.8K

$177 PKR 49.3K

41.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 ₹14.5K

$125 PKR 34.6K

22.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$553 ₹52.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$338 ₹32.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ₹55.1K

$180 PKR 50.0K

221.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.72

17.43

-49.97%

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

Last update for Varanasi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Multan: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Varanasi and $84.2 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varanasi pays 222% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Varanasi vs $9.00 in Multan. Groceries flip the comparison at $89.0 vs $81.0, with Multan 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

Varanasi vs Multan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varanasi is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Varanasi pays 222% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $125 in Varanasi versus $84.2 in Multan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $57.8 in Varanasi versus $35.97 in Multan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Multan pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Varanasi 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 Varanasi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.