Cost of Living Comparison Between Cox's Bazar and Mardan Cost of Living Comparison Between Cox's Bazar and Mardan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $353 in Cox's Bazar versus $485 in Mardan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $567 in Cox's Bazar versus $761 in Mardan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $780 in Cox's Bazar versus $1,036 in Mardan.

Living in Cox's Bazar costs roughly 27% less than in Mardan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cox's Bazar 74% lower, Mardan 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.60 ৳197

$3.50 PKR 969

-54.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.45 ৳1,529

$23.09 PKR 6,398

-46.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.98 ৳366

$5.34 PKR 1,480

-44.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 ৳323

$3.52 PKR 975

-25.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ৳302

$6.91 PKR 1,914

-64.40%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ৳246

$2.60 PKR 719

-23.08%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ৳47.93

$0.35 PKR 98.1

11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.11 ৳13.10

$0.21 PKR 58.1

-47.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 ৳92.8

$0.83 PKR 230

-8.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 ৳62.4

$0.75 PKR 207

-32.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.63 ৳76.9

$1.24 PKR 343

-49.19%

Eggs

$1.05 ৳128

$1.16 PKR 323

-9.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ৳913

$2.85 PKR 790

160.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.08 ৳255

$3.20 PKR 886

-35.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.44 ৳914

$3.81 PKR 1,054

95.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 ৳288

$0.87 PKR 240

168.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 ৳105

$0.74 PKR 205

16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ৳204

$1.02 PKR 283

62.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 ৳63.6

$0.37 PKR 103

40.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 ৳53.1

$0.28 PKR 77.9

53.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ৳70.1

$0.35 PKR 97.1

62.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 ৳57.8

$0.28 PKR 76.7

67.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ৳37.49

$0.38 PKR 104

-18.42%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.92 ৳972

$1.76 PKR 488

350.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ৳312

$1.19 PKR 329

113.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 ৳551

$2.72 PKR 754

65.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 ৳226

$1.82 PKR 505

1.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.56 PKR 2,650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.28 ৳33.96

$1.24 PKR 343

-77.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ৳47.43

$0.75 PKR 209

-48.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 ৳506

$1.60 PKR 444

157.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ৳131

$1.05 PKR 292

1.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.0K ৳4.1M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

52.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.9K ৳4.3M

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

44.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$12.23 ৳1,503

$102 PKR 28.2K

-87.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.67 ৳328

$5.74 PKR 1,590

-53.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.16 ৳1,371

$16.13 PKR 4,470

-30.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.10 ৳1,978

$16.62 PKR 4,605

-3.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.17 ৳512

Cinema Ticket

$2.33 ৳286

$4.27 PKR 1,182

-45.43%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$24.12 ৳2,962

$74.3 PKR 20.6K

-67.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,483 ৳182.2K

$990 PKR 274.2K

49.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 ৳2,869

$24.55 PKR 6,803

-4.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.44 ৳2,265

$34.45 PKR 9,545

-46.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.38 ৳3,978

$97.6 PKR 27.0K

-66.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.45 ৳4,355

$40.17 PKR 11.1K

-11.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 ৳20.3K

$126 PKR 34.8K

31.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.6 ৳12.0K

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

24.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ৳37.2K

$253 PKR 70.2K

19.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ৳19.9K

$147 PKR 40.6K

10.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$354 ৳43.5K

$903 PKR 250.0K

-60.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$258 ৳31.7K

$475 PKR 131.5K

-45.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$288 ৳35.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

13.08

-12.08%

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

Last update for Cox's Bazar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mardan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $165 in Cox's Bazar and $126 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Cox's Bazar vs $23.00 in Mardan. Groceries flip the comparison at $108 vs $83.0, with Mardan cheaper for home cooking.

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

Cox's Bazar vs Mardan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cox's Bazar and Mardan differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($353 vs $485 including rent). Cox's Bazar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $530 in Cox's Bazar and $727 in Mardan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $165 in Cox's Bazar versus $126 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mardan pay roughly 30% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $353 per month in Cox's Bazar versus $485 in Mardan – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cox's Bazar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Cox's Bazar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Mardan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.