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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Karachi vs $307 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $735 per month in Karachi vs $480 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $987 per month in Karachi vs $653 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Karachi costs about 58% 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

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.73 PKR 480

19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$12.57 PKR 3,490

-0.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$5.45 PKR 1,514

-26.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.75 PKR 485

10.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$1.72 PKR 478

206.40%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.45 PKR 403

24.83%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.34 PKR 93.1

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.83 PKR 231

-4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.61 PKR 170

-4.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.16 PKR 323

1.72%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.20 PKR 332

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$3.64 PKR 1,010

76.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.24 PKR 623

39.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$4.56 PKR 1,267

11.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.84 PKR 233

22.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.79 PKR 221

-24.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.82 PKR 226

12.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.50 PKR 140

14.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.32 PKR 89.7

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.52 PKR 145

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.33 PKR 92.8

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.20 PKR 54.8

105.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.92 PKR 532

-34.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.92 PKR 256

43.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$2.05 PKR 569

0.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.80 PKR 499

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.26 PKR 72.7

26.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$6.89 PKR 1,914

-6.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.85 PKR 236

-12.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.41 PKR 114

48.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.75 PKR 762

-36.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.89 PKR 247

5.62%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-22.50%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$25.8K PKR 7.2M

-2.10%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$44.75 PKR 12.4K

200.25%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$2.99 PKR 831

67.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$18.53 PKR 5,146

-28.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$17.35 PKR 4,818

-8.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$3.60 PKR 999

298.61%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.16 PKR 1,156

4.33%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$35.10 PKR 9,747

67.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$540 PKR 149.8K

151.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$8.97 PKR 2,492

97.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$7.17 PKR 1,991

259.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$88.6 PKR 24.6K

-27.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$12.54 PKR 3,481

185.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$35.82 PKR 9,946

230.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$21.00 PKR 5,832

255.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$169 PKR 46.8K

89.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$42.10 PKR 11.7K

330.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$229 PKR 63.6K

-22.78%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Karachi versus $35.82 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 30% 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 $13.00 in Karachi versus $13.00 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 58% 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 $726 per month in Karachi and $461 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 7% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $58.8 per month in Karachi and $35.10 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 $484 in Karachi and $307 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.