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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $478 per month in Isfahan vs $484 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $831 per month in Isfahan vs $735 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,185 per month in Isfahan vs $987 in Karachi, rent included.

Isfahan is about 1% cheaper than Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.91 $2.91

$2.06 PKR 571

41.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.98 $10.98

$12.56 PKR 3,482

-12.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.99 PKR 1,107

-25.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.93 PKR 536

-49.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$5.27 PKR 1,461

-61.10%

Cappuccino

$0.83 $0.83

$1.81 PKR 502

-54.14%

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

$0.51 $0.51

$0.33 PKR 92.6

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.21 PKR 58.0

342.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.79 PKR 220

-29.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 $0.43

$0.58 PKR 161

-25.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.18 PKR 328

84.75%

Eggs

$1.53 $1.53

$1.15 PKR 320

33.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$6.41 PKR 1,779

-57.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.12 PKR 866

-3.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.93 $9.93

$5.09 PKR 1,411

95.09%

Apples (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.03 PKR 286

-38.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.60 PKR 166

126.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.92 PKR 256

8.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.57 PKR 159

-3.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.35 PKR 98.1

71.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.50 PKR 140

4.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.36 PKR 99.6

52.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 $0.21

$0.41 PKR 113

-48.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.25 PKR 346

-59.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 $0.54

$1.32 PKR 367

-59.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$2.06 PKR 572

-64.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.16 PKR 598

-4.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.33 PKR 92.6

-6.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.28 $13.28

$6.43 PKR 1,783

106.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.74 PKR 206

-31.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.61 PKR 170

-52.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.74 PKR 483

14.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.94 PKR 261

-9.57%

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

$67.1K $67.1K

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

300.50%

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

$58.4K $58.4K

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

131.18%

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

$14.77 $14.77

$134 PKR 37.3K

-89.01%

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

$1.84 $1.84

$5.00 PKR 1,386

-63.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.72 $7.72

$13.28 PKR 3,684

-41.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.71 $13.71

$15.87 PKR 4,401

-13.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.56 $10.56

$14.35 PKR 3,979

-26.41%

Cinema Ticket

$1.12 $1.12

$4.34 PKR 1,205

-74.19%

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

$71.9 $71.9

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

22.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$586 $586

$1,356 PKR 376.2K

-56.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.19 $18.19

$17.71 PKR 4,912

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.89 $23.89

$25.79 PKR 7,153

-7.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

32.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.92 $36.92

$35.84 PKR 9,940

3.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 $288

$118 PKR 32.8K

143.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 $197

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

164.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$901 $901

$319 PKR 88.5K

182.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 $522

$181 PKR 50.2K

188.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,195 $1,195

$932 PKR 258.4K

28.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$723 $723

$433 PKR 120.2K

66.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 $209

$177 PKR 49.1K

18.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.86

17.8

50.90%

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

Last update for Isfahan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Isfahan versus $118 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 18% higher in Isfahan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan versus $13.00 in Karachi. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Isfahan vs $97.0 in Karachi – so Karachi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Karachi costs about 1% more than Isfahan, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $716 per month in Isfahan and $726 in Karachi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Isfahan, 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 $13.00 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 $478 in Isfahan and $484 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 $478 in Isfahan and $484 in Karachi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Isfahan – 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 Isfahan. 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.