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

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 19.5% more expensive than Karachi without rent, and 11.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 13% more expensive than Karachi without rent, and 16.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PKR 771

$2.15 PKR 601

28.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.25 PKR 3,975

$12.35 PKR 3,445

15.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 PKR 1,485

$4.22 PKR 1,178

26.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 482

$1.98 PKR 552

-12.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PKR 1,109

$5.19 PKR 1,449

-23.31%

Cappuccino

$2.08 PKR 581

$1.88 PKR 524

10.64%

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.34 PKR 94.2

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.2

$0.23 PKR 64.4

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 269

$0.81 PKR 225

19.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 185

$0.58 PKR 162

13.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 352

$1.13 PKR 316

11.50%

Eggs

$1.27 PKR 355

$1.17 PKR 326

8.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 PKR 1,680

$6.44 PKR 1,797

-6.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 958

$3.13 PKR 874

9.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,227

$5.15 PKR 1,437

-14.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 280

$1.07 PKR 299

-6.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.55 PKR 154

54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.96 PKR 266

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.57 PKR 160

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.38 PKR 107

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 160

$0.47 PKR 130

21.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.0

$0.38 PKR 107

-13.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.40 PKR 112

-7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.91 PKR 534

$1.63 PKR 456

17.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 255

$1.26 PKR 352

-27.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 566

$2.04 PKR 570

-0.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 576

$2.17 PKR 605

-5.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.4

$0.33 PKR 92.8

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,924

$6.23 PKR 1,738

10.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.74 PKR 207

22.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.65 PKR 181

-38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 802

$1.75 PKR 488

64.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 258

$0.87 PKR 242

5.75%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

27.22%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

3.57%

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

$111 PKR 31.1K

$134 PKR 37.4K

-16.84%

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

$5.57 PKR 1,555

$4.86 PKR 1,355

14.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 PKR 5,218

$13.64 PKR 3,807

37.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.29 PKR 6,220

$15.61 PKR 4,355

42.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.86 PKR 1,634

$14.21 PKR 3,966

-58.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,200

$4.22 PKR 1,177

1.90%

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

$60.6 PKR 16.9K

$58.1 PKR 16.2K

4.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,738 PKR 764.0K

$1,405 PKR 392.0K

94.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.38 PKR 5,965

$17.52 PKR 4,890

22.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.45 PKR 7,937

$25.62 PKR 7,149

11.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 25.0K

$65.7 PKR 18.3K

36.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.17 PKR 11.2K

$35.88 PKR 10.0K

11.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 55.0K

$118 PKR 33.0K

66.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 31.1K

$76.4 PKR 21.3K

45.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.8K

$324 PKR 90.3K

55.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PKR 81.6K

$182 PKR 50.8K

60.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,535 PKR 428.2K

$728 PKR 203.2K

110.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$752 PKR 209.7K

$461 PKR 128.5K

63.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$304 PKR 84.7K

$171 PKR 47.7K

77.42%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Karachi: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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