Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $472 per month in Isfahan vs $457 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $799 per month in Isfahan vs $728 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,126 per month in Isfahan vs $999 in Karachi, rent included.

Isfahan costs about 3% more than Karachi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Isfahan and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Isfahan 66% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 $3.04

$2.20 PKR 611

38.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.68 $10.68

$14.33 PKR 3,973

-25.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.04 $3.04

$5.27 PKR 1,462

-42.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 $0.76

$2.14 PKR 593

-64.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$7.36 PKR 2,039

-73.10%

Cappuccino

$1.01 $1.01

$2.20 PKR 610

-54.09%

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

$0.52 $0.52

$0.33 PKR 92.3

57.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.23 PKR 63.3

121.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.89 PKR 248

-41.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.52 PKR 145

-13.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.24 PKR 345

64.52%

Eggs

$1.53 $1.53

$1.21 PKR 335

26.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-55.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.03 PKR 841

-18.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 $10.29

$6.11 PKR 1,695

68.41%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.22 PKR 339

-44.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$0.55 PKR 153

138.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.98 PKR 272

3.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.59 PKR 164

-5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.34 PKR 95.1

73.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.31 PKR 85.2

58.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.39 PKR 109

48.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.43 PKR 121

-55.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.25 PKR 346

-61.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.32 PKR 365

-61.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 $0.76

$2.48 PKR 687

-69.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.79 PKR 496

16.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.28 PKR 77.5

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.44 $12.44

$8.20 PKR 2,273

51.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.74 PKR 205

-35.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.70 PKR 194

-55.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.20 PKR 609

-7.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.33 PKR 369

-33.08%

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

$67.9K $67.9K

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

276.14%

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

$58.5K $58.5K

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

112.09%

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

$10.27 $10.27

$104 PKR 28.8K

-90.10%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$5.88 PKR 1,629

-65.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.42 $7.42

$12.86 PKR 3,564

-42.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.39 $13.39

$20.32 PKR 5,632

-34.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.53 $13.53

$18.66 PKR 5,173

-27.49%

Cinema Ticket

$0.99 $0.99

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-77.50%

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

$71.8 $71.8

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

42.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$515 $515

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

-62.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.18 $18.18

$14.81 PKR 4,106

22.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.37 $24.37

$21.90 PKR 6,070

11.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

30.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.50 $37.50

$35.81 PKR 9,925

4.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 $287

$111 PKR 30.8K

158.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 $198

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

178.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 $1,302

$297 PKR 82.2K

338.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 $449

$180 PKR 49.9K

149.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,189 $1,189

$976 PKR 270.6K

21.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$754 $754

$467 PKR 129.5K

61.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$205 $205

$182 PKR 50.4K

12.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.8

12.88

108.07%

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

Last update for Isfahan: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Isfahan versus $111 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 13% higher in Isfahan, 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 Isfahan versus $14.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $101 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Isfahan vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Isfahan costs about 3% more than Karachi, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Isfahan and $685 in Karachi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karachi, 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 Isfahan and $14.00 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 $472 in Isfahan and $457 in Karachi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $472 in Isfahan and $457 in Karachi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Karachi – 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 Karachi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Isfahan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.