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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $484 in Karachi, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $735 in Karachi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $987 in Karachi, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 10% more than Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Karachi are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$2.06 PKR 572

38.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$12.56 PKR 3,487

13.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$3.99 PKR 1,108

36.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

$1.93 PKR 537

-10.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-27.51%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.81 PKR 502

8.84%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.33 PKR 92.7

21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.21 PKR 58.0

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.79 PKR 220

21.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.58 PKR 161

13.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.18 PKR 328

8.47%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.15 PKR 321

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$6.41 PKR 1,781

-5.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$3.12 PKR 867

8.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$5.09 PKR 1,413

-14.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.03 PKR 286

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$0.60 PKR 166

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.92 PKR 257

-1.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.57 PKR 159

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.35 PKR 98.2

17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.50 PKR 140

14.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.36 PKR 99.8

-13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.25 PKR 346

60.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.32 PKR 367

-29.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

$2.06 PKR 572

-0.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.16 PKR 599

-0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-48.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$6.43 PKR 1,785

12.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.74 PKR 206

14.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.61 PKR 170

-29.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$1.74 PKR 484

60.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.94 PKR 261

4.26%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

24.83%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

2.64%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-15.38%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$5.00 PKR 1,388

8.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$13.28 PKR 3,689

40.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$15.87 PKR 4,406

39.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-57.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-4.61%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

2.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

102.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$17.71 PKR 4,919

19.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$25.79 PKR 7,162

7.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

36.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$35.84 PKR 9,953

14.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$118 PKR 32.8K

68.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

47.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$319 PKR 88.6K

58.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$181 PKR 50.3K

64.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$932 PKR 258.7K

62.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$433 PKR 120.3K

49.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$177 PKR 49.1K

117.56%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad 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 118% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $13.00 in Karachi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $97.0 – 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 10%, 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 $801 per month in Islamabad 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 Karachi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad and $13.00 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 $534 in Islamabad and $484 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.