Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Islamabad

🙂 Solo nomad: Karachi is 16.3% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Karachi is 11.5% cheaper than Islamabad without rent, and 14.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15 PKR 601
$2.76 PKR 771
-22.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.35 PKR 3,445
$14.25 PKR 3,975
-13.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.22 PKR 1,178
$5.32 PKR 1,485
-20.68%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 PKR 552
$1.73 PKR 482
14.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19 PKR 1,449
$3.98 PKR 1,109
30.40%
Cappuccino
$1.88 PKR 524
$2.08 PKR 581
-9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 94.2
$0.42 PKR 118
-19.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.4
$0.24 PKR 67.2
-4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 PKR 225
$0.97 PKR 269
-16.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 PKR 162
$0.66 PKR 185
-12.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 316
$1.26 PKR 352
-10.32%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 326
$1.27 PKR 355
-7.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.44 PKR 1,797
$6.02 PKR 1,680
6.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 PKR 874
$3.43 PKR 958
-8.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.15 PKR 1,437
$4.40 PKR 1,227
17.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 PKR 299
$1.00 PKR 280
7.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 154
$0.85 PKR 236
-35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 PKR 266
$0.90 PKR 251
6.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.57 PKR 158
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 107
$0.38 PKR 106
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 130
$0.57 PKR 160
-17.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 PKR 107
$0.33 PKR 93.0
15.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.37 PKR 104
8.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.63 PKR 456
$1.91 PKR 534
-14.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 PKR 352
$0.91 PKR 255
38.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 PKR 570
$2.03 PKR 566
0.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 605
$2.06 PKR 576
5.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PKR 92.8
$0.18 PKR 50.4
83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.23 PKR 1,738
$6.90 PKR 1,924
-9.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 PKR 207
$0.91 PKR 253
-18.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 PKR 181
$0.40 PKR 112
62.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 PKR 488
$2.87 PKR 802
-39.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 PKR 242
$0.92 PKR 258
-5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K PKR 4.6M
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
-21.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K PKR 7.0M
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
-3.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 PKR 37.4K
$111 PKR 31.1K
20.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.86 PKR 1,355
$5.57 PKR 1,555
-12.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.64 PKR 3,807
$18.70 PKR 5,218
-27.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.61 PKR 4,355
$22.29 PKR 6,220
-29.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.21 PKR 3,966
$5.86 PKR 1,634
142.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22 PKR 1,177
$4.30 PKR 1,200
-1.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.1 PKR 16.2K
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
-4.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,405 PKR 392.0K
$2,738 PKR 764.0K
-48.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.52 PKR 4,890
$21.38 PKR 5,965
-18.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.62 PKR 7,149
$28.45 PKR 7,937
-9.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 PKR 18.3K
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
-26.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.88 PKR 10.0K
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
-10.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 33.0K
$197 PKR 55.0K
-40.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.4 PKR 21.3K
$111 PKR 31.1K
-31.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$324 PKR 90.3K
$505 PKR 140.8K
-35.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 PKR 50.8K
$292 PKR 81.6K
-37.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$728 PKR 203.2K
$1,535 PKR 428.2K
-52.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$461 PKR 128.5K
$752 PKR 209.7K
-38.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$171 PKR 47.7K
$304 PKR 84.7K
-43.64%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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