Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Karak Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Karak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $428 in Karak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $625 in Karak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $822 in Karak.

Living in Karachi is roughly 7% more expensive than in Karak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Karak 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$0.75 PKR 207

193.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,974

$7.31 PKR 2,027

96.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.51 PKR 1,527

-4.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$0.75 PKR 207

185.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,040

$6.78 PKR 1,879

8.55%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$0.56 PKR 155

292.86%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.36 PKR 98.9

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.22 PKR 60.7

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.94 PKR 261

-5.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.57 PKR 157

-8.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.09 PKR 302

13.76%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.11 PKR 308

9.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$1.77 PKR 490

249.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.87 PKR 795

5.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$4.35 PKR 1,205

40.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$0.69 PKR 191

76.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.52 PKR 144

5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.73 PKR 203

34.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.48 PKR 134

22.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.29 PKR 81.1

17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.32 PKR 89.6

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.16 PKR 43.33

143.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.26 PKR 72.7

65.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.85 PKR 512

-32.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.33 PKR 368

-0.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.44 PKR 676

1.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.30 PKR 638

-22.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.16 PKR 45.06

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,274

$8.59 PKR 2,383

-4.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.28 PKR 355

-42.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.73 PKR 203

-4.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.58 PKR 437

39.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.25 PKR 347

6.40%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.9K PKR 6.1M

-17.45%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$25.5K PKR 7.1M

7.94%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$103 PKR 28.5K

0.79%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,630

$5.81 PKR 1,611

1.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$16.19 PKR 4,489

-20.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,633

$16.60 PKR 4,601

22.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.78 PKR 1,326

-7.95%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

-33.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

$996 PKR 276.1K

38.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,107

$23.90 PKR 6,626

-38.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,072

$31.81 PKR 8,819

-31.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$81.8 PKR 22.7K

-20.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,927

$39.51 PKR 11.0K

-9.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$130 PKR 35.9K

-14.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$84.3 PKR 23.4K

-15.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$285 PKR 79.0K

4.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$155 PKR 43.0K

16.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.7K

$804 PKR 222.9K

21.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$585 PKR 162.2K

-20.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

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 Karak: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $130 in Karak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $7.00 in Karak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $74.0 per month, with Karak 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 Karak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Karak differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $428 including rent). Karak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $685 in Karachi and $642 in Karak 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $111 in Karachi versus $130 in Karak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $428 in Karak – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karak runs roughly 5% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Karak gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Karak 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.