Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Hyderabad and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $459 per month in Hyderabad vs $477 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $685 per month in Hyderabad vs $727 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $911 per month in Hyderabad vs $978 in Karachi, rent included.

Hyderabad is about 4% cheaper than Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hyderabad and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad 66% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 498

$2.14 PKR 595

-16.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,991

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-13.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.16 PKR 1,158

$4.06 PKR 1,129

2.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 PKR 527

$1.99 PKR 553

-5.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 PKR 1,518

$5.22 PKR 1,452

4.60%

Cappuccino

$0.95 PKR 264

$1.89 PKR 525

-49.74%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.36 PKR 101

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.3

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.83 PKR 231

-13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.58 PKR 161

-8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 323

$1.13 PKR 315

2.65%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.21 PKR 337

-4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-2.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.75 PKR 765

$3.19 PKR 887

-13.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.00 PKR 1,111

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-18.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.03 PKR 287

5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.93 PKR 258

-8.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.56 PKR 156

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.9

$0.39 PKR 108

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.51 PKR 141

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.38 PKR 107

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.43 PKR 120

-4.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.91 PKR 254

$1.28 PKR 356

-28.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 PKR 588

$2.08 PKR 580

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 PKR 603

$2.08 PKR 580

4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.3

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.84 PKR 2,737

$6.33 PKR 1,762

55.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.74 PKR 205

-12.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.19 PKR 52.4

$0.61 PKR 171

-68.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.79 PKR 497

-61.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 243

$0.92 PKR 256

-5.43%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

1.48%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-5.92%

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

$135 PKR 37.5K

$132 PKR 36.8K

1.78%

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

$4.64 PKR 1,292

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-5.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.73 PKR 3,820

$13.63 PKR 3,791

0.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.28 PKR 5,642

$15.55 PKR 4,326

30.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.59 PKR 997

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-74.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 PKR 956

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-20.79%

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

$41.18 PKR 11.5K

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-28.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 PKR 304.5K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-21.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.79 PKR 4,949

$17.73 PKR 4,932

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.99 PKR 6,952

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-2.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.4 PKR 17.9K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.32 PKR 10.1K

$35.86 PKR 9,976

1.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.2K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-1.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.1 PKR 18.9K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-7.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-8.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.2K

$182 PKR 50.6K

9.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$580 PKR 161.4K

$985 PKR 273.9K

-41.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$195 PKR 54.2K

$457 PKR 127.3K

-57.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.5K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-5.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-15.73%

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

Last update for Hyderabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $119 in Hyderabad versus $122 in Karachi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Karachi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Hyderabad versus $12.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $97.0 – making Hyderabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Hyderabad vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi costs about 4% more than Hyderabad, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $688 per month in Hyderabad and $715 in Karachi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hyderabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Hyderabad and $12.00 in Karachi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $459 in Hyderabad and $477 in Karachi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $459 in Hyderabad and $477 in Karachi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Hyderabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Hyderabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.