Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Karachi

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $490 a month against $784 in China, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$490
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: China is 67.7% more expensive than Karachi without rent, and 59.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: China is 64% more expensive than Karachi without rent, and 71.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90 ¥19.42
$2.15 PKR 596
34.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.02 ¥147
$13.37 PKR 3,700
64.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 ¥34.80
$5.29 PKR 1,464
-1.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.19 PKR 606
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.25 PKR 2,005
-
Cappuccino
$3.04 ¥20.35
$2.11 PKR 583
44.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.46
$0.37 PKR 103
40.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.85
$0.28 PKR 78.2
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ¥6.76
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ¥14.66
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Karachi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.73
$0.86 PKR 238
103.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥10.98
$0.52 PKR 144
215.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.13
$1.24 PKR 344
-25.81%
Eggs
$1.59 ¥10.67
$1.24 PKR 342
28.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 ¥86.9
$5.86 PKR 1,622
121.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.42
$3.12 PKR 862
7.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.18 ¥74.8
$6.25 PKR 1,730
78.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.04
$1.29 PKR 356
39.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ¥8.80
$0.54 PKR 150
142.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.82
$0.99 PKR 273
48.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 ¥8.81
$0.56 PKR 155
135.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.08
$0.33 PKR 91.6
130.30%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.16
$0.35 PKR 95.8
162.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥3.95
$0.45 PKR 124
31.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.64
$0.44 PKR 121
22.73%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.23 PKR 341
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 PKR 380
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.44 PKR 676
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 ¥25.38
$1.79 PKR 497
111.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.14 ¥81.3
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥5.49
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥10.94
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
China
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.28 PKR 76.5
3.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.33 ¥149
$9.68 PKR 2,679
130.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ¥10.26
$0.92 PKR 255
66.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.32
$0.71 PKR 196
-50.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.00 ¥46.87
$2.22 PKR 615
215.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.79
$1.35 PKR 372
-2.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥127.3K
$17.8K PKR 4.9M
6.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥113.9K
$26.7K PKR 7.4M
-36.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.1 ¥362
$112 PKR 30.9K
-51.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 ¥56.4
$6.05 PKR 1,673
39.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.72 ¥71.8
$13.29 PKR 3,679
-19.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.72 ¥273
$21.51 PKR 5,954
89.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.58 ¥97.6
$17.80 PKR 4,927
-18.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 ¥45.22
$4.42 PKR 1,222
52.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ¥3,094
$50.7 PKR 14.0K
811.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K ¥131.2K
$1,957 PKR 541.6K
901.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Karachi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57 ¥305
$17.57 PKR 4,862
159.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05 ¥241
$22.78 PKR 6,304
58.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 ¥505
$67.6 PKR 18.7K
11.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 ¥529
$40.97 PKR 11.3K
92.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,581
$117 PKR 32.4K
228.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ¥1,604
$75.7 PKR 21.0K
216.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 ¥5,646
$365 PKR 101.1K
130.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ¥3,088
$182 PKR 50.5K
153.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,590 ¥30.7K
$1,054 PKR 291.6K
335.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,279 ¥15.3K
$491 PKR 135.8K
364.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 ¥7,093
$185 PKR 51.2K
473.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
13.21
-73.81%

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

Last update for China: October 4, 2026

Last update for Karachi: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
China
$240
Karachi
$76 68.4% $164
Groceries & Markets
China
$207
Karachi
$101 51.4% $106
Clothing & Footwear
China
$106
Karachi
$67 36.9% $39
Eating Out
China
$88
Karachi
$61 30.6% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$73
Karachi
$131 79% $58
Sport & Entertainment
China
$54
Karachi
$30 44% $24
Getting Around
China
$27
Karachi
$15 43% $12
Good to know
🇨🇳 China
🇵🇰 Karachi
🕒 Local time
12:06 12:06 PM
09:06 9:06 AM
3 h behind China
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,442,965,000
14,910,352
💱 Currency
Chinese Yuan CNY ¥
Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨
📈 Exchange rate
1 CNY = 0.149 USD
1 CNY = 0.133 EUR
1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD
1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.149 USD). 1 EUR = 7.51 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

USD to CNY in detail →
On the map
Between locations
  • China Karachi 4,860 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • China
  • 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

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$380
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,199
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$481
/mo nomad
Show more

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