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: $286 in Varanasi versus $522 in Multan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $482 in Varanasi versus $730 in Multan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $678 in Varanasi versus $938 in Multan.

Living in Varanasi costs roughly 45% less than in Multan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Varanasi 79% lower, Multan 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 ₹176

$2.47 PKR 684

-25.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.11 ₹774

$10.93 PKR 3,029

-25.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.23 ₹308

$5.43 PKR 1,504

-40.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 770

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 PKR 1,481

Cappuccino

$1.60 ₹153

$1.77 PKR 489

-9.60%

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

$0.38 ₹35.97

$0.28 PKR 77.2

35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.75

$0.16 PKR 45.49

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 ₹153

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₹200

Milk (1 liter)

$0.65 ₹62.3

$0.68 PKR 188

-4.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.29 ₹27.43

$0.54 PKR 151

-46.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.57 ₹54.5

$1.02 PKR 282

-44.12%

Eggs

$0.81 ₹77.7

$1.10 PKR 304

-26.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.18 ₹304

$6.93 PKR 1,920

-54.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 ₹216

$2.39 PKR 661

-5.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.39 PKR 1,215

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 ₹136

$0.94 PKR 262

51.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 ₹63.1

$0.52 PKR 143

26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 ₹84.5

$0.67 PKR 185

31.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.34 ₹32.70

$0.55 PKR 151

-38.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 ₹22.92

$0.39 PKR 109

-38.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.26 ₹25.07

$0.44 PKR 122

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 ₹41.06

$0.47 PKR 130

-8.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₹24.55

$0.37 PKR 104

-29.73%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.89 PKR 525

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 PKR 805

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ₹305

$2.12 PKR 587

50.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ₹541

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₹161

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₹233

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

$4.06 ₹388

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₹52.9

$0.18 PKR 49.57

205.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.35 ₹893

$7.35 PKR 2,037

27.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.20 ₹19.17

$1.47 PKR 407

-86.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.10 ₹9.64

$0.38 PKR 105

-73.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ₹99.9

$0.92 PKR 256

14.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₹104

$1.09 PKR 301

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

$12.6K ₹1.2M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

-49.18%

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

$18.9K ₹1.8M

$26.5K PKR 7.3M

-28.43%

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

$12.58 ₹1,201

$144 PKR 39.9K

-91.27%

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

$3.66 ₹350

$5.06 PKR 1,402

-27.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.75 ₹645

$18.73 PKR 5,188

-63.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.21 ₹1,071

$23.91 PKR 6,624

-53.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.37 ₹513

$3.67 PKR 1,017

46.32%

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 ₹280

$4.29 PKR 1,188

-31.70%

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

$39.67 ₹3,790

$43.12 PKR 11.9K

-8.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,003 ₹95.8K

$1,023 PKR 283.3K

-1.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.50 ₹2,054

$18.17 PKR 5,034

18.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 ₹2,394

$19.14 PKR 5,301

30.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.26 ₹3,560

$91.3 PKR 25.3K

-59.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.46 ₹2,433

$25.45 PKR 7,050

0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 ₹10.9K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-21.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$47.40 ₹4,529

$92.3 PKR 25.6K

-48.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 ₹18.9K

$219 PKR 60.6K

-9.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 ₹13.5K

$148 PKR 40.9K

-4.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$577 ₹55.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$345 ₹32.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 ₹54.9K

$180 PKR 49.9K

218.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.53

-34.38%

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

Last update for Varanasi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Multan: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Varanasi and $144 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varanasi pays 219% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $8.00 in Varanasi vs $11.00 in Multan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $83.0 vs $88.0 per month, with Varanasi 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

Varanasi vs Multan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varanasi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 219% higher in Varanasi, 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: $114 in Varanasi versus $144 in Multan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $39.67 in Varanasi versus $43.12 in Multan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Multan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 83% less than in Multan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.