Moving to a new city in Pakistan: what your real budget looks like

Most people budget for the truck. They forget about everything else. The truck is usually 60 to 70 percent of an intercity move cost. The other 30 percent is the part that wakes you up at 2 AM a week before move day and you realise you didn't plan for any of it.

Here is a complete breakdown of what an intercity move actually costs in Pakistan in 2026, with the items people forget marked clearly so you don't have the same 2 AM moment.

The visible costs (the part everyone budgets for)

These are the line items that show up on every quote from any mover. Roughly:

• Truck and driver. A 22-foot Hino or container for a 3-BHK Lahore-to-Karachi run is roughly PKR 1,10,000 to 1,40,000, including diesel and motorway tolls. A 14-foot Shehzore for shorter routes (Lahore to Islamabad, Lahore to Faisalabad) is PKR 25,000 to 50,000.
• Packing material. Cartons, bubble wrap, mattress sleeves, stretch film, packing tape, marker pens. For a 3-BHK move, expect PKR 8,000 to 15,000 in material alone.
• Loading crew at origin. 4 to 6 people for half a day. PKR 12,000 to 25,000 in labour.
• Drop-off crew at destination. Usually 3 to 4 people for a few hours. PKR 8,000 to 15,000.
• Add-ons. Each add-on has its own price. Detail covered in our pricing post.

The hidden costs (the part people forget)

Now the items most quotes don't mention but you'll feel.

• Crew accommodation on long hauls. A Lahore-to-Karachi run is two days driving. The driver and one helper need somewhere to sleep at the halfway point (usually Sukkur or Multan). Some movers include this. Some bill it separately at PKR 3,000 to 5,000. Ask.
• Transit insurance.Basic transit cover is included in most quotes. Extended cover for high-value items (jewellery, art, a high-end audio setup) usually isn't. Plan for 1 to 3 percent of declared value.
• Customs / inter-provincial documentation.Most domestic moves don't need this. But if you're moving anything that could be questioned (older firearms, significant jewellery, alcohol if any) keep paperwork ready for any check post.
• Days off work.Plan for two days of leave for the move itself, plus another two over the following week for unpacking, paperwork updates, and dealing with whatever breaks. If your salary day-rate is PKR 5,000, that's PKR 20,000 of opportunity cost.
• Eating out at both ends.The kitchen isn't usable for at least the first day. Budget PKR 4,000 to 8,000 for restaurant meals and food panda for a family of four for the first two days at the new place.
• Connection charges at the new place. WAPDA, gas, water, internet, cable. Each one has a security deposit plus a one-time connection fee. Total: PKR 8,000 to 25,000 depending on what you connect.

The first-30-days budget at the new place

A move doesn't end when the truck leaves. There are three weeks of gradual settling-in costs that nobody plans for:

• The replacement budget. Things break, get lost, or turn out not to fit. A new room often needs a new set of curtain rods, a new doormat, maybe a new wardrobe shelf or two. PKR 10,000 to 30,000 average.
• Initial groceries and pantry restock. Spices, oil, condiments, cleaning supplies, basic stock for the new fridge. PKR 8,000 to 15,000.
• Domestic help recruitment. If you have a maid, cook, or driver in the old city, factor in either their relocation cost or hiring locally at the new place. The first month often has overlap.
• Society membership / club fees.If you're moving into a new community (DHA Karachi, for example) the joining fees and member dues are separate from house costs.

A real example: 2-BHK Lahore to Karachi

Here is what a recent move looked like, all-in:

• Truck (22-foot, two-day haul): PKR 1,18,000
• Packing material: PKR 12,500
• Loading crew at Lahore: PKR 18,000
• Drop-off crew at Karachi: PKR 11,000
• Two split AC dismantle and remount: PKR 9,500
• Crew overnight at Sukkur: PKR 3,500
• Basic transit cover: included
• Subtotal (mover bill): PKR 1,72,500

What the family spent on top of the mover bill:

• Food at both ends (first 48 hours): PKR 6,200
• WAPDA + Sui Gas + internet connections: PKR 16,800
• 4 days off work between the two of them: PKR 28,000 (at their salary rates)
• Replacement and adjustment costs (curtains, two broken dishes, new bathroom mat): PKR 14,500
• First-month groceries and pantry: PKR 11,000
• Subtotal (everything else): PKR 76,500

How to actually cut the cost (without cutting the quality)

A few moves that genuinely save money without making the move worse:

1. Move mid-week, mid-month, mid-season.Tuesday to Thursday in October is the cheapest slot you'll find. Moves during peak season (March to July) cost roughly 15 to 25 percent more for the same job.
2. Declutter before the move. The cost of moving junk to a new city and discarding it there is higher than the cost of selling, donating, or disposing of it before you go. A single concentrated decluttering weekend can shrink your packing volume by 25 to 40 percent.
3. Take the partial-pack option for non-fragiles.Pack your own clothes, books, and folded textiles. Let the mover handle the kitchen, glassware, and big furniture. Saves 15 to 25 percent on the labour line.
4. Consolidate the trip. If you have anything else heading the same way (a relative also moving cities, or a friend who needs furniture transported), share the truck. Coordinated moves are cheaper for everyone.
5. Don't take what you'll replace anyway.Old mattresses, old appliances near end-of-life, sofas that have already needed reupholstery once. Selling them locally and buying replacements at the new city is sometimes cheaper than the moving cost.

Two budget rules of thumb

From years of running these:

• Add 20 percent to whatever the mover quotes.That covers the hidden costs we listed above.
• Add another 10 percent to that for the first month. That covers the settling-in costs.

So a PKR 1,72,000 quoted move is realistically a PKR 2,30,000 all-in lifecycle cost. Plan accordingly.

If you'd like a line-itemed quote that breaks out the items most movers hide, send us a message. We'll put everything on paper, including the bits other movers won't.