Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Karachi

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 18.5% more expensive than Karachi without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 11.7% more expensive than Karachi without rent, and 21% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 806

$2.08 PKR 588

37.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.4 PKR 4,068

$12.27 PKR 3,465

17.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 PKR 1,491

$4.07 PKR 1,149

29.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 496

$2 PKR 565

-12.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PKR 1,083

$5.14 PKR 1,453

-25.49%

Cappuccino

$2.01 PKR 567

$1.84 PKR 519

9.24%

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

$0.39 PKR 111

$0.37 PKR 104

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 68.1

$0.23 PKR 65.2

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1 PKR 282

$0.8 PKR 225

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 188

$0.55 PKR 155

21.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 344

$1.13 PKR 319

7.96%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 358

$1.18 PKR 332

7.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PKR 1,736

$6.54 PKR 1,846

-5.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 PKR 1,004

$3.24 PKR 915

9.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.31 PKR 1,216

$5.08 PKR 1,435

-15.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 292

$1.08 PKR 306

-4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 239

$0.55 PKR 155

54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.9 PKR 255

$0.89 PKR 250

1.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 167

$0.54 PKR 152

9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.38 PKR 108

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 148

$0.47 PKR 133

10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 87.3

$0.36 PKR 100

-13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.4 PKR 114

$0.44 PKR 124

-9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 PKR 503

$1.22 PKR 344

45.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 247

$1.31 PKR 371

-33.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 554

$2.12 PKR 599

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 PKR 613

$2.18 PKR 616

-0.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 53

$0.37 PKR 103

-48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,964

$6.28 PKR 1,772

10.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 239

$0.7 PKR 197

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.66 PKR 187

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.9 PKR 820

$1.72 PKR 485

68.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 277

$0.93 PKR 263

5.38%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.1M

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

28.77%

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

$26K PKR 7.3M

$25K PKR 7.1M

3.94%

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

$111 PKR 31.3K

$136 PKR 38.3K

-18.32%

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

$5.35 PKR 1,512

$4.88 PKR 1,379

9.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.38 PKR 5,191

$13.36 PKR 3,775

37.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.44 PKR 6,339

$15.31 PKR 4,325

46.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,700

$14.22 PKR 4,016

-57.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.3 PKR 1,214

$4.35 PKR 1,230

-1.15%

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

$59.2 PKR 16.7K

$57.7 PKR 16.3K

2.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,713 PKR 766.3K

$1,350 PKR 381.3K

100.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.17 PKR 5,980

$17.87 PKR 5,047

18.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.14 PKR 7,947

$25.27 PKR 7,138

11.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.8K

$65.4 PKR 18.5K

34.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.86 PKR 11.3K

$35.61 PKR 10.1K

11.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 PKR 57K

$121 PKR 34.2K

66.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.5K

$75.9 PKR 21.4K

47.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 PKR 141.1K

$321 PKR 90.7K

55.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PKR 84.3K

$182 PKR 51.4K

64.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,315 PKR 371.4K

$576 PKR 162.7K

128.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$781 PKR 220.5K

$365 PKR 103.2K

113.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$289 PKR 81.6K

$190 PKR 53.8K

51.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.8

13.48%

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

Last update for Islamabad: October 29, 2025

Last update for Karachi: October 27, 2025

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