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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $477 per month in Karachi vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $727 per month in Karachi vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $978 per month in Karachi vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Karachi is about 10% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Karachi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 64% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.80 PKR 779

-23.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$14.22 PKR 3,955

-12.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-25.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.72 PKR 478

15.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$4.00 PKR 1,112

30.50%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$2.00 PKR 557

-5.50%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.43 PKR 119

-16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.94 PKR 260

-11.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.62 PKR 173

-6.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.21 PKR 338

-6.61%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.20 PKR 335

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.07 PKR 1,689

3.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$3.39 PKR 942

-5.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$4.38 PKR 1,218

12.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.78 PKR 216

-25.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.93 PKR 260

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.60 PKR 166

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.41 PKR 115

-4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.54 PKR 149

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.34 PKR 93.3

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.37 PKR 103

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.93 PKR 537

-33.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.90 PKR 251

40.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.99 PKR 552

4.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.14 PKR 596

-2.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.19 PKR 52.2

78.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$6.90 PKR 1,920

-8.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.86 PKR 238

-13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.44 PKR 122

38.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.81 PKR 782

-36.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-23.75%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-6.40%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$112 PKR 31.1K

18.40%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-9.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-27.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-29.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$6.04 PKR 1,679

137.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$4.21 PKR 1,171

2.85%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-3.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-50.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-17.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$27.63 PKR 7,685

-7.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-27.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,975

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-10.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-38.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-33.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-37.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-38.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-36.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-30.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-53.40%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $122 in Karachi versus $198 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 115% 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 $12.00 in Karachi versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $98.0 – 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 11%, 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 $715 per month in Karachi and $794 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 1% 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 $12.00 in Karachi and $14.00 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 $477 in Karachi and $529 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.