🇵🇰 Pakistan · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Multan? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Two-bed apartment or portion, Gulgasht Colony or Bosan RoadPKR 30,000–70,000 / month
Two-bed flat, Shah Rukn-e-Alam Colony or New MultanPKR 16,000–32,000 / month
Utilities — MEPCO electricity, gas and water, one householdPKR 16,000–45,000 / month, and the summer peak is higher here than anywhere else in Punjab
Groceries, one personPKR 22,000–40,000 / month
Multan Metrobus, single fare per journeyA flat fare in the region of PKR 25 — confirm the current figure with the Punjab Masstransit Authority
Good to know
Population
2.22 million in the city at the 2023 census — Pakistan's sixth largest, and the effective capital of south Punjab
Languages
Saraiki is the mother tongue of the city and the region, and is a distinct language rather than a Punjabi dialect; Urdu is the national register and English the language of business, law and higher education
Currency
Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Time zone
PKT (GMT+5) — no daylight saving
Power plug
Type C and D, 230 V, distributed by MEPCO — the Multan Electric Power Company, which serves the whole of southern Punjab
Climate
Hot desert — above 45°C through May to July with dust, a weak monsoon, mild winters, and severe smog from November to January
Province
Punjab, with a separate South Punjab administrative secretariat established in 2020 covering the Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions
Public transport
The Multan Metrobus — about 18.5 km and 21 stations from Bahauddin Zakariya University to Chowk Kumaharan, run by the Punjab Masstransit Authority
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Multan checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Multan
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.