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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $457 per month in Karachi vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $728 per month in Karachi vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $999 per month in Karachi vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Karachi is about 23% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Karachi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 67% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 612

$3.57 PKR 990

-38.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,976

$22.74 PKR 6,309

-36.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$5.47 PKR 1,517

-3.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

$3.55 PKR 986

-39.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,041

$6.71 PKR 1,862

9.69%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$2.39 PKR 663

-7.95%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.32 PKR 90.0

3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.4

$0.22 PKR 60.8

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.99 PKR 275

-10.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.79 PKR 220

-34.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.28 PKR 354

-3.13%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.28 PKR 356

-5.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,716

$6.11 PKR 1,695

1.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$3.06 PKR 849

-0.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,696

$5.12 PKR 1,421

19.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.34 PKR 371

-8.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.84 PKR 232

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.02 PKR 282

-3.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.49 PKR 135

20.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.29 PKR 81.2

17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.3

$0.33 PKR 90.4

-6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.29 PKR 80.8

34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.38 PKR 106

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.90 PKR 528

-34.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.38 PKR 383

-4.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.35 PKR 652

5.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.28 PKR 632

-21.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.6

$0.16 PKR 44.31

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,275

$21.23 PKR 5,889

-61.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.27 PKR 353

-41.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.69 PKR 191

1.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.65 PKR 459

33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.32 PKR 365

0.76%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-66.54%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

9.83%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$102 PKR 28.3K

1.65%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,631

$5.83 PKR 1,618

0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,567

$16.34 PKR 4,534

-21.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,637

$29.09 PKR 8,071

-30.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,177

$8.93 PKR 2,478

108.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,222

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-12.18%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-32.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-72.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,109

$23.55 PKR 6,532

-37.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,076

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-32.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-21.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,933

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-8.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-59.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-50.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.3K

$577 PKR 160.1K

-48.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$266 PKR 73.9K

-32.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.9K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

-40.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$829 PKR 230.1K

-43.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-52.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

13.08

-1.53%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Karachi versus $277 in Islamabad. 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 110% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Karachi versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $103 – making Karachi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $685 per month in Karachi and $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 2% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Karachi and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $457 in Karachi and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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