Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Haroonabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Haroonabad

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Karachi 64% lower, Haroonabad 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 PKR 596
$2.16 PKR 602
-0.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44 PKR 3,462
$10.76 PKR 2,993
15.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.06 PKR 1,129
$4.34 PKR 1,207
-6.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 PKR 553
$2.88 PKR 801
-30.90%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22 PKR 1,452
$3.75 PKR 1,044
39.20%
Cappuccino
$1.89 PKR 525
$2.38 PKR 661
-20.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.35 PKR 97.4
2.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.2
$0.21 PKR 58.3
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 PKR 231
$0.95 PKR 264
-12.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 PKR 161
$0.58 PKR 160
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 315
$1.16 PKR 322
-2.59%
Eggs
$1.21 PKR 337
$1.20 PKR 335
0.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.29 PKR 1,749
$5.87 PKR 1,633
7.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 PKR 887
$2.43 PKR 676
31.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.91 PKR 1,365
$4.43 PKR 1,232
10.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 288
$1.01 PKR 282
1.98%
Banana (1kg)
$0.58 PKR 162
$0.65 PKR 180
-10.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 PKR 258
$0.61 PKR 171
52.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 156
$0.48 PKR 134
16.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 108
$0.33 PKR 90.8
18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 141
$0.48 PKR 134
6.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 PKR 107
$0.48 PKR 133
-20.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKR 120
$0.36 PKR 102
19.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.28 PKR 356
$0.88 PKR 246
45.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 PKR 351
$0.51 PKR 142
147.06%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 PKR 580
$1.10 PKR 307
89.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 PKR 580
$1.91 PKR 531
8.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 PKR 94.4
$0.15 PKR 42.95
126.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.33 PKR 1,762
$7.09 PKR 1,972
-10.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 PKR 205
$0.73 PKR 203
1.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 PKR 171
$0.49 PKR 136
24.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 PKR 497
$1.82 PKR 507
-1.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 256
$0.91 PKR 252
1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K PKR 4.6M
$18.0K PKR 5.0M
-8.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K PKR 6.8M
$22.9K PKR 6.4M
6.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 PKR 36.8K
$137 PKR 38.1K
-3.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.90 PKR 1,363
$5.34 PKR 1,487
-8.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.63 PKR 3,792
$10.49 PKR 2,919
29.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.55 PKR 4,327
$12.37 PKR 3,441
25.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.33 PKR 3,987
$5.85 PKR 1,628
144.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.33 PKR 1,204
$4.13 PKR 1,150
4.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.0 PKR 16.1K
$10.58 PKR 2,944
447.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,402 PKR 390.0K
$1,043 PKR 290.3K
34.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.73 PKR 4,934
$10.74 PKR 2,989
65.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51 PKR 7,099
$22.47 PKR 6,254
13.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.2 PKR 17.9K
$73.1 PKR 20.3K
-12.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.86 PKR 9,979
$28.15 PKR 7,834
27.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$122 PKR 33.8K
$76.0 PKR 21.1K
60.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.9 PKR 20.6K
$51.7 PKR 14.4K
42.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$323 PKR 89.9K
$165 PKR 45.9K
95.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 PKR 50.6K
$105 PKR 29.3K
72.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$985 PKR 274.0K
$928 PKR 258.2K
6.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$457 PKR 127.3K
$532 PKR 148.1K
-14.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Haroonabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$181 PKR 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.

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