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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Karachi vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $735 per month in Karachi vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $987 per month in Karachi vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Karachi is about 9% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Karachi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Karachi 64% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.85 PKR 791

-27.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-11.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-26.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.72 PKR 477

12.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$3.82 PKR 1,061

37.96%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.97 PKR 547

-8.12%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.40 PKR 110

-17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.96 PKR 268

-17.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.66 PKR 183

-12.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.28 PKR 355

-7.81%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.20 PKR 334

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$6.07 PKR 1,687

5.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$3.37 PKR 937

-7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$4.35 PKR 1,209

17.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.04 PKR 289

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.84 PKR 234

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.56 PKR 156

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.41 PKR 115

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.57 PKR 158

-12.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.31 PKR 85.4

16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$2.00 PKR 555

-37.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.93 PKR 258

41.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$2.04 PKR 567

0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.14 PKR 595

0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.17 PKR 46.51

94.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.22 PKR 2,006

-10.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.85 PKR 236

-12.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.43 PKR 120

41.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.79 PKR 775

-37.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.98 PKR 271

-4.08%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-19.89%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-2.58%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$114 PKR 31.6K

18.17%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-7.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-28.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-28.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$6.12 PKR 1,699

134.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.14 PKR 1,150

4.83%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-2.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

-50.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-15.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-6.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-26.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-40.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-32.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-36.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-39.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-38.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-33.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-54.03%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Karachi versus $199 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 118% 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 $13.00 in Karachi versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $100 – 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 10%, 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 $726 per month in Karachi and $801 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 3% 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 $13.00 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 $484 in Karachi and $534 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.