Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Abakan

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $490 a month against $875 in Abakan, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$490
/mo nomad
Abakan
🇷🇺 Russia
$875
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karachi and in Abakan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Karachi and in Abakan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $490 per month in Karachi vs $875 in Abakan, rent included.

  • Karachi $490
  • Abakan $875

A couple spends around $755 per month in Karachi vs $1,353 in Abakan, rent included.

  • Karachi $755
  • Abakan $1,353

A family of three spends $1,019 per month in Karachi vs $1,831 in Abakan, rent included.

  • Karachi $1,019
  • Abakan $1,831

Karachi is about 44% cheaper than Abakan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Karachi and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 63% lower, Abakan 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15 PKR 596
$11.60 ₽987
-81.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.37 PKR 3,700
$32.67 ₽2,780
-59.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.29 PKR 1,464
$6.08 ₽518
-12.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 PKR 606
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.25 PKR 2,005
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.11 PKR 583
$2.98 ₽254
-29.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 103
$1.12 ₽95.4
-66.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 PKR 78.2
$0.60 ₽51.0
-53.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.85 ₽157
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.82 ₽240
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 PKR 238
$1.15 ₽98.0
-25.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.76 ₽64.7
-31.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 PKR 344
$1.37 ₽117
-9.49%
Eggs
$1.24 PKR 342
$1.52 ₽129
-18.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.86 PKR 1,622
$11.21 ₽954
-47.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 PKR 862
$6.03 ₽513
-48.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.25 PKR 1,731
$11.13 ₽947
-43.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 356
$1.75 ₽149
-26.29%
Banana (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 150
$1.75 ₽149
-69.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 PKR 273
$1.69 ₽144
-41.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 155
$3.62 ₽308
-84.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 91.6
$0.80 ₽67.8
-58.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 95.9
$0.59 ₽50.5
-40.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 PKR 124
$1.28 ₽109
-64.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 PKR 121
$0.75 ₽63.7
-41.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.23 PKR 341
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 PKR 381
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 PKR 676
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79 PKR 497
$2.89 ₽246
-38.06%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$8.70 ₽740
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.98 ₽83.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.99 ₽170
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 PKR 76.5
$0.39 ₽33.31
-28.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.68 PKR 2,679
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 PKR 255
$2.39 ₽203
-61.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 PKR 196
$0.34 ₽29.28
108.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.22 PKR 615
$5.89 ₽501
-62.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 PKR 372
$0.80 ₽67.7
68.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K PKR 4.9M
$30.3K ₽2.6M
-41.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K PKR 7.4M
$36.6K ₽3.1M
-26.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 PKR 30.9K
$76.3 ₽6,493
46.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.05 PKR 1,673
$5.80 ₽494
4.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.29 PKR 3,679
$9.06 ₽771
46.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.51 PKR 5,954
$34.69 ₽2,951
-37.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.80 PKR 4,927
$21.45 ₽1,825
-17.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.42 PKR 1,222
$5.79 ₽492
-23.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$50.7 PKR 14.0K
$352 ₽29.9K
-85.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,957 PKR 541.6K
$7,274 ₽619.0K
-73.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.57 PKR 4,862
$42.03 ₽3,576
-58.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.78 PKR 6,304
$51.4 ₽4,374
-55.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.6 PKR 18.7K
$106 ₽8,995
-36.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.97 PKR 11.3K
$78.2 ₽6,656
-47.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 PKR 32.5K
$331 ₽28.2K
-64.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$75.7 PKR 21.0K
$237 ₽20.2K
-68.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$365 PKR 101.1K
$529 ₽45.0K
-30.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 PKR 50.5K
$352 ₽29.9K
-48.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,054 PKR 291.6K
$2,039 ₽173.5K
-48.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$491 PKR 135.8K
$1,353 ₽115.1K
-63.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$185 PKR 51.2K
$589 ₽50.1K
-68.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.21
21.33
-38.07%

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

Last update for Karachi: October 4, 2026

Last update for Abakan: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
$131
Abakan
$91 30.5% $40
Groceries & Markets
Karachi
$101
Abakan
$216 114% $115
Accommodation & Living
Karachi
$76
Abakan
$237 214% $162
Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
$67
Abakan
$125 86.3% $58
Eating Out
Karachi
$61
Abakan
$169 177% $108
Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
$30
Abakan
$46 52.4% $16
Getting Around
Karachi
$15
Abakan
$5.7 * 62.8% $9.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Karachi versus $331 in Abakan. 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 219% higher in Abakan, 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 $13.00 in Karachi versus $33.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $216 – making Karachi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Karachi
🇷🇺 Abakan
🕒 Local time
17:10 5:10 PM
19:10 7:10 PM
2 h ahead of Karachi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,910,352
187,239
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 85.09 RUB (100 RUB = 1.18 USD). 1 EUR = 95.35 RUB (100 RUB = 1.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karachi Abakan 3,800 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Karachi
  • Abakan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Karachi vs Abakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abakan cheaper than Karachi?
Yes – Abakan is pricier by about 79%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $735 per month in Karachi and $1,312 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Karachi and in Abakan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $490 in Karachi and $875 in Abakan. That's a gap of about 79%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $50.7 per month in Karachi and $352 in Abakan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,200 enough for either Karachi or Abakan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $490 in Karachi and $875 in Abakan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Karachi or Abakan more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karachi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abakan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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