😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Karachi versus $444 in Haroonabad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $661 in Haroonabad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $878 in Haroonabad.
😐Living in Karachi is roughly 7% more expensive than Haroonabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi64% lower, Haroonabad67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14PKR 596
$2.16PKR 602
-0.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44PKR 3,462
$10.76PKR 2,993
15.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.06PKR 1,129
$4.34PKR 1,207
-6.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99PKR 553
$2.88PKR 801
-30.90%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22PKR 1,452
$3.75PKR 1,044
39.20%
Cappuccino
$1.89PKR 525
$2.38PKR 661
-20.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.35PKR 97.4
2.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.21PKR 58.3
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83PKR 231
$0.95PKR 264
-12.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58PKR 161
$0.58PKR 160
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13PKR 315
$1.16PKR 322
-2.59%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 337
$1.20PKR 335
0.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.29PKR 1,749
$5.87PKR 1,633
7.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19PKR 887
$2.43PKR 676
31.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.91PKR 1,365
$4.43PKR 1,232
10.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 288
$1.01PKR 282
1.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58PKR 162
$0.65PKR 180
-10.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 258
$0.61PKR 171
52.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 156
$0.48PKR 134
16.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.33PKR 90.8
18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 141
$0.48PKR 134
6.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38PKR 107
$0.48PKR 133
-20.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.36PKR 102
19.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.28PKR 356
$0.88PKR 246
45.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26PKR 351
$0.51PKR 142
147.06%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08PKR 580
$1.10PKR 307
89.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08PKR 580
$1.91PKR 531
8.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34PKR 94.4
$0.15PKR 42.95
126.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.33PKR 1,762
$7.09PKR 1,972
-10.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74PKR 205
$0.73PKR 203
1.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61PKR 171
$0.49PKR 136
24.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.79PKR 497
$1.82PKR 507
-1.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92PKR 256
$0.91PKR 252
1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4KPKR 4.6M
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
-8.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KPKR 6.8M
$22.9KPKR 6.4M
6.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132PKR 36.8K
$137PKR 38.1K
-3.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.90PKR 1,363
$5.34PKR 1,487
-8.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.63PKR 3,792
$10.49PKR 2,919
29.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.55PKR 4,327
$12.37PKR 3,441
25.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.33PKR 3,987
$5.85PKR 1,628
144.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.33PKR 1,204
$4.13PKR 1,150
4.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.0PKR 16.1K
$10.58PKR 2,944
447.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,402PKR 390.0K
$1,043PKR 290.3K
34.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.73PKR 4,934
$10.74PKR 2,989
65.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51PKR 7,099
$22.47PKR 6,254
13.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.2PKR 17.9K
$73.1PKR 20.3K
-12.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.86PKR 9,979
$28.15PKR 7,834
27.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122PKR 33.8K
$76.0PKR 21.1K
60.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$73.9PKR 20.6K
$51.7PKR 14.4K
42.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$323PKR 89.9K
$165PKR 45.9K
95.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182PKR 50.6K
$105PKR 29.3K
72.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$985PKR 274.0K
$928PKR 258.2K
6.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$457PKR 127.3K
$532PKR 148.1K
-14.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$181PKR 50.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.8
19.88
-10.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026
Last update for Haroonabad: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $76.0 in Haroonabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Haroonabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $90.0 per month, with Haroonabad cheaper across the board.
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 Haroonabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Karachi or Haroonabad?
Haroonabad wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Karachi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Haroonabad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Karachi vs Haroonabad?
You'd need roughly $715 in Karachi and $667 in Haroonabad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Karachi vs Haroonabad?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Karachi versus $76.0 in Haroonabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Karachi and Haroonabad?
Childcare runs $58.0 in Karachi versus $10.58 in Haroonabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Karachi or Haroonabad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Karachi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $800/month in Karachi or Haroonabad?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Haroonabad gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Karachi or Haroonabad?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Haroonabad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.