Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bekasi and Karachi

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $482 a month against $665 in Bekasi, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bekasi
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$665
/mo nomad
Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$482
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bekasi and in Karachi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bekasi and in Karachi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $665 in Bekasi versus $482 in Karachi.

  • Bekasi $665
  • Karachi $482

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,073 in Bekasi versus $750 in Karachi.

  • Bekasi $1,073
  • Karachi $750

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,480 in Bekasi versus $1,018 in Karachi.

  • Bekasi $1,480
  • Karachi $1,018

Living in Bekasi is roughly 38% more expensive than in Karachi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bekasi 51% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.72 Rp 48.9K
$2.13 PKR 588
27.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.10 Rp 253.9K
$13.30 PKR 3,680
6.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.41 Rp 61.4K
$5.45 PKR 1,508
-37.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.19 PKR 607
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.24 PKR 2,005
-
Cappuccino
$1.47 Rp 26.4K
$2.09 PKR 579
-29.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,309
$0.40 PKR 111
15.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 Rp 3,940
$0.26 PKR 71.1
-15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 Rp 43.9K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 Rp 68.7K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 Rp 19.9K
$0.92 PKR 254
19.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 Rp 20.2K
$0.56 PKR 156
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
$1.25 PKR 345
-32.00%
Eggs
$1.64 Rp 29.6K
$1.23 PKR 341
33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.52 Rp 171.4K
$5.67 PKR 1,570
67.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.94 Rp 53.0K
$3.16 PKR 876
-6.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 Rp 144.4K
$6.28 PKR 1,737
27.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.26 PKR 348
117.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.7K
$0.53 PKR 148
158.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 Rp 45.0K
$1.00 PKR 276
150.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.8K
$0.56 PKR 154
135.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.33 PKR 91.4
306.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 Rp 37.9K
$0.34 PKR 95.1
520.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
$0.42 PKR 116
123.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,281
$0.44 PKR 121
-9.09%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.25 PKR 346
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.32 PKR 365
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.42 PKR 670
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
$1.84 PKR 509
48.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 400.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 Rp 36.5K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 Rp 56.2K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 Rp 6,217
$0.28 PKR 77.0
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.05 Rp 199.0K
$9.99 PKR 2,764
10.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.92 PKR 256
-9.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 Rp 7,889
$0.70 PKR 193
-37.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 Rp 40.7K
$2.16 PKR 597
4.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.5K
$1.38 PKR 382
-37.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K Rp 375.2M
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
16.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 578.4M
$27.1K PKR 7.5M
18.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.4 Rp 1.1M
$113 PKR 31.4K
-44.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.94 Rp 106.9K
$5.95 PKR 1,648
-0.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.24 Rp 346.3K
$13.16 PKR 3,642
46.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.55 Rp 280.0K
$21.55 PKR 5,965
-27.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.20 Rp 111.5K
$18.23 PKR 5,044
-65.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.36 Rp 60.6K
$4.21 PKR 1,165
-20.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 Rp 2.3M
$52.2 PKR 14.4K
146.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,333 Rp 150.0M
$1,940 PKR 537.0K
329.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 Rp 1.0M
$17.55 PKR 4,858
232.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.38 Rp 582.8K
$23.51 PKR 6,506
37.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 Rp 1.4M
$68.9 PKR 19.1K
11.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.1 Rp 1.7M
$40.59 PKR 11.2K
131.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$206 Rp 3.7M
$118 PKR 32.7K
74.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 Rp 2.4M
$73.6 PKR 20.4K
80.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 Rp 8.2M
$357 PKR 98.9K
27.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 Rp 6.4M
$188 PKR 52.0K
90.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$585 Rp 10.5M
$1,060 PKR 293.4K
-44.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$902 Rp 16.2M
$481 PKR 133.1K
87.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bekasi
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$366 Rp 6.6M
$183 PKR 50.6K
100.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
13.21
-28.39%

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

Last update for Bekasi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Karachi: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bekasi
$216
Karachi
$101 53.1% $115
Accommodation & Living
Bekasi
$133
Karachi
$74 44.6% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Bekasi
$118
Karachi
$68 42.5% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bekasi
$89
Karachi
$133 49.7% $44
Eating Out
Bekasi
$72
Karachi
$61 15.3% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Bekasi
$22
Karachi
$30 34.5% $7.7
Getting Around
Bekasi
$15
Karachi
$16 0.4% $0.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $206 in Bekasi and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bekasi pays 100% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Bekasi vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $101 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bekasi
🇵🇰 Karachi
🕒 Local time
18:47 6:47 PM
16:47 4:47 PM
2 h behind Bekasi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,334,871
14,910,352
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bekasi Karachi 5,540 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bekasi
  • Karachi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bekasi vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bekasi and in Karachi?
Bekasi and Karachi differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($665 vs $482 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bekasi or Karachi?
Average pay runs 100% higher in Bekasi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bekasi and in Karachi?
Rent for a central apartment: $206 in Bekasi versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Karachi – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $14.00 in Bekasi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bekasi or Karachi?
All in, you'll spend $665 per month in Bekasi versus $482 in Karachi – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Bekasi compared to Karachi?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Bekasi and Karachi?
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.
Where should expats move: Bekasi or Karachi?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Bekasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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