Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Cimahi and Karachi
For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $482 a month against $559 in Cimahi, rent and utilities included – about $920 less a year. The total is higher in Cimahi despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cimahi and in Karachi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $559 in Cimahi versus $482 in Karachi.
Cimahi $559
Karachi $482
Estimated couple costs with rent: $930 in Cimahi versus $750 in Karachi.
Cimahi $930
Karachi $750
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,300 in Cimahi versus $1,018 in Karachi.
Cimahi $1,300
Karachi $1,018
🌍
Living in Cimahi is roughly 16% more expensive than in Karachi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi59% lower, Karachi64% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72Rp 30.9K
$2.13PKR 588
-19.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.10Rp 253.8K
$13.30PKR 3,680
6.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.28Rp 59.0K
$5.45PKR 1,508
-39.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.19PKR 607
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.24PKR 2,005
-
Cappuccino
$1.47Rp 26.4K
$2.09PKR 579
-29.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,347
$0.40PKR 111
15.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,323
$0.26PKR 71.1
-7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 44.0K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08Rp 55.5K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Rp 20.2K
$0.92PKR 254
21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98Rp 17.6K
$0.56PKR 156
75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.9K
$1.25PKR 345
-29.60%
Eggs
$1.47Rp 26.5K
$1.23PKR 341
19.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33Rp 131.9K
$5.67PKR 1,570
29.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92Rp 52.6K
$3.16PKR 876
-7.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.74Rp 139.3K
$6.28PKR 1,737
23.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 41.1K
$1.26PKR 348
81.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.9K
$0.53PKR 148
109.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.7K
$1.00PKR 276
48.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.8K
$0.56PKR 154
57.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05Rp 18.9K
$0.33PKR 91.4
218.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.5K
$0.34PKR 95.1
479.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.42PKR 116
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,184
$0.44PKR 121
-9.09%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.25PKR 346
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.32PKR 365
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.42PKR 670
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66Rp 47.8K
$1.84PKR 509
44.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.89Rp 375.9K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91Rp 34.4K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 54.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,899
$0.28PKR 77.0
-3.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.99PKR 2,764
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,733
$0.92PKR 256
-41.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32Rp 5,744
$0.70PKR 193
-54.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.34Rp 42.1K
$2.16PKR 597
8.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88Rp 15.9K
$1.38PKR 382
-36.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 378.9M
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
17.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KRp 523.1M
$27.1KPKR 7.5M
7.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.78Rp 608.0K
$113PKR 31.4K
-70.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.40Rp 79.2K
$5.95PKR 1,648
-26.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.12Rp 344.2K
$13.16PKR 3,642
45.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.33Rp 348.0K
$21.55PKR 5,965
-10.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.05Rp 162.8K
$18.23PKR 5,044
-50.36%
Cinema Ticket
$2.84Rp 51.1K
$4.21PKR 1,165
-32.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.7M
$52.2PKR 14.4K
81.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,303Rp 149.5M
$1,940PKR 537.0K
327.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.60Rp 694.9K
$17.55PKR 4,858
119.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.40Rp 511.2K
$23.51PKR 6,506
20.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$68.9PKR 19.1K
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2Rp 1.3M
$40.59PKR 11.2K
75.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214Rp 3.9M
$118PKR 32.7K
81.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$126Rp 2.3M
$73.6PKR 20.4K
70.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512Rp 9.2M
$357PKR 98.9K
43.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357Rp 6.4M
$188PKR 52.0K
89.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,102Rp 19.8M
$1,060PKR 293.4K
3.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$819Rp 14.7M
$481PKR 133.1K
70.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$254Rp 4.6M
$183PKR 50.6K
39.05%
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 Cimahi: October 13, 2026
Last update for Karachi: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
$191 34.1%
Karachi
$101 21% ↓ 46.9%$89
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
$126 22.5%
Karachi
$74 15.3% ↓ 41.5%$52
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
$95 17%
Karachi
$68 14.1% ↓ 28.6%$27
🍽Eating Out
Cimahi
$62 11.2%
Karachi
$61 12.7% ↓ 2.1%$1.3
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
$57 10.3%
Karachi
$133 27.5% ↑ 131%$75
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
$25 4.5%
Karachi
$30 6.2% ↑ 19.8%$5
🚌Getting Around
Cimahi
$3.2 * 0.6%
Karachi
$16 3.2% ↑ 382%$12
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
$415 32%
Karachi
$246 24.1% ↓ 40.9%$170
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
$357 27.5%
Karachi
$188 18.5% ↓ 47.4%$169
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
$211 16.2%
Karachi
$151 14.8% ↓ 28.6%$60
🍽Eating Out
Cimahi
$189 14.6%
Karachi
$186 18.3% ↓ 1.6%$3
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
$62 4.8%
Karachi
$139 13.6% ↑ 125%$77
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
$59 4.5%
Karachi
$78 7.7% ↑ 32.4%$19
🚌Getting Around
Cimahi
$7 * 0.5%
Karachi
$32 3.1% ↑ 352%$25
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Cimahi and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cimahi pays 39% 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 Cimahi vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $101 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.
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
Cimahi vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimahi or Karachi?
Karachi wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Cimahi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Karachi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cimahi or in Karachi?
Average pay runs 39% higher in Cimahi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cimahi compared to Karachi?
Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Cimahi versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimahi or in Karachi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 88% higher in Cimahi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cimahi compared to Karachi?
All in, you'll spend $559 per month in Cimahi versus $482 in Karachi – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Cimahi or in 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimahi or Karachi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Karachi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $482 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Karachi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Cimahi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.