Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Abbottabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Abbottabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $477 per month in Karachi vs $309 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $727 per month in Karachi vs $484 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $978 per month in Karachi vs $659 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Karachi costs about 54% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karachi and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 64% lower, Abbottabad 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.72 PKR 478

24.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$12.16 PKR 3,384

2.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$5.28 PKR 1,469

-23.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.80 PKR 500

10.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$1.72 PKR 479

203.49%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.44 PKR 400

31.25%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.31 PKR 85.1

16.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.21 PKR 58.3

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.77 PKR 216

7.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.66 PKR 183

-12.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.15 PKR 320

-1.74%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.20 PKR 333

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$3.61 PKR 1,004

74.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.26 PKR 628

41.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$4.56 PKR 1,269

7.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.92 PKR 256

11.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.79 PKR 219

-26.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.84 PKR 232

10.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.53 PKR 148

5.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.30 PKR 82.5

30.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.48 PKR 134

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.31 PKR 85.2

22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.16 PKR 45.66

168.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.98 PKR 550

-35.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.87 PKR 241

44.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.03 PKR 566

2.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.82 PKR 506

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.24 PKR 66.3

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$7.11 PKR 1,978

-10.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.90 PKR 251

-17.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.43 PKR 121

41.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.75 PKR 766

-34.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.95 PKR 264

-3.16%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-22.31%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-5.37%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$43.84 PKR 12.2K

201.78%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.07 PKR 855

59.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$18.44 PKR 5,128

-26.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$17.48 PKR 4,864

-11.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$3.52 PKR 979

307.10%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$4.30 PKR 1,196

0.70%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$35.21 PKR 9,795

64.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$524 PKR 145.7K

167.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$9.10 PKR 2,531

94.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$6.98 PKR 1,943

265.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$87.5 PKR 24.3K

-26.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,975

$12.54 PKR 3,487

185.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$35.28 PKR 9,814

244.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$21.23 PKR 5,906

248.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$169 PKR 47.1K

90.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$42.22 PKR 11.7K

330.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$236 PKR 65.6K

-23.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

20.2

-11.88%

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

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $122 in Karachi versus $35.28 in Abbottabad. 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 31% higher in Abbottabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Karachi versus $12.00 in Abbottabad. Groceries tell a different story – $97.0 in Karachi vs $80.0 in Abbottabad – so Abbottabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Abbottabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi costs about 54% more than Abbottabad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $715 per month in Karachi and $463 in Abbottabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abbottabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $58.0 per month in Karachi and $35.21 in Abbottabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $477 in Karachi and $309 in Abbottabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Abbottabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Abbottabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karachi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.