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: $484 in Karachi versus $399 in Karak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $580 in Karak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $760 in Karak.

Living in Karachi is roughly 21% more expensive than in Karak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Karak 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$0.69 PKR 192

198.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$6.88 PKR 1,909

82.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$5.45 PKR 1,514

-26.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$0.69 PKR 193

179.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$4.00 PKR 1,112

31.75%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$0.51 PKR 142

254.90%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.37 PKR 102

-10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.22 PKR 61.0

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$1.01 PKR 280

-21.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.54 PKR 151

7.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.08 PKR 300

9.26%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.08 PKR 300

6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$1.72 PKR 478

272.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.76 PKR 767

13.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$4.28 PKR 1,189

18.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.72 PKR 200

43.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.51 PKR 141

17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.73 PKR 203

26.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.59 PKR 164

-3.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.39 PKR 107

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.54 PKR 150

-7.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.19 PKR 52.6

89.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.24 PKR 66.2

70.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.42 PKR 393

-11.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.88 PKR 243

50.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.03 PKR 565

1.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.17 PKR 602

-0.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.20 PKR 56.0

65.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.02 PKR 1,948

-8.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.85 PKR 235

-12.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.41 PKR 113

48.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.89 PKR 803

-39.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.96 PKR 267

-2.08%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-22.55%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-5.13%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$111 PKR 30.8K

21.17%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$5.58 PKR 1,549

-10.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$18.84 PKR 5,232

-29.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.33 PKR 3,425

28.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$5.91 PKR 1,640

142.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.21 PKR 1,169

3.09%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$60.6 PKR 16.8K

-2.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,112 PKR 308.7K

22.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$21.53 PKR 5,979

-17.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$28.08 PKR 7,796

-8.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$88.5 PKR 24.6K

-27.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$40.05 PKR 11.1K

-10.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

57.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$52.1 PKR 14.5K

43.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$166 PKR 46.2K

91.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$105 PKR 29.2K

72.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$1,009 PKR 280.1K

-7.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$434 PKR 120.5K

-0.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

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 Karak: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $75.1 in Karak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $7.00 in Karak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 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 21% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $399 including rent). Karak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $726 in Karachi and $599 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: $118 in Karachi versus $75.1 in Karak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $399 in Karak – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karak runs roughly 9% 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 21% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.