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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $457 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $728 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $999 in Karachi, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 29% more than Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.20 PKR 612

62.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$14.33 PKR 3,976

58.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$5.27 PKR 1,463

3.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$2.14 PKR 594

65.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$7.36 PKR 2,041

-8.83%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.20 PKR 610

8.64%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.33 PKR 92.4

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.23 PKR 63.4

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.89 PKR 248

11.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.52 PKR 145

51.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.24 PKR 345

3.23%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.21 PKR 335

5.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$6.19 PKR 1,716

-1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$3.03 PKR 841

0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$6.11 PKR 1,696

-16.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.22 PKR 340

9.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.55 PKR 153

52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.98 PKR 272

4.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.59 PKR 164

-16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.31 PKR 85.3

6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.39 PKR 109

-25.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.43 PKR 121

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.25 PKR 347

52.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.32 PKR 365

4.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$2.48 PKR 687

-5.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$1.79 PKR 496

27.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.28 PKR 77.6

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$8.20 PKR 2,275

158.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.74 PKR 205

71.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.70 PKR 195

-1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$2.20 PKR 609

-25.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.33 PKR 369

-0.75%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

198.87%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-8.95%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-1.62%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$5.88 PKR 1,631

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$12.86 PKR 3,567

27.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$20.32 PKR 5,637

43.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$18.66 PKR 5,177

-52.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$4.40 PKR 1,222

13.86%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

48.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

269.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$14.81 PKR 4,109

59.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$21.90 PKR 6,076

49.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

28.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$35.81 PKR 9,933

9.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$111 PKR 30.8K

149.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

103.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$297 PKR 82.3K

94.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$180 PKR 49.9K

47.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$976 PKR 270.9K

67.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$467 PKR 129.6K

77.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$182 PKR 50.4K

109.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad 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 110% higher in Islamabad, 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $101 – making Karachi 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

Islamabad vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad 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.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $14.00 in Karachi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $589 in Islamabad 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, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.