Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Karratha

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $483 a month against $2,473 in Karratha, rent and utilities included – about $23,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$483
/mo nomad
Karratha
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,473
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karachi and in Karratha

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Karachi and in Karratha actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $2,473 in Karratha.

  • Karachi $483
  • Karratha $2,473

Estimated couple costs with rent: $754 in Karachi versus $3,581 in Karratha.

  • Karachi $754
  • Karratha $3,581

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,025 in Karachi versus $4,690 in Karratha.

  • Karachi $1,025
  • Karratha $4,690

Living in Karachi costs roughly 80% less than in Karratha, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Karachi is 64% below, Karratha is 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11 PKR 585
$17.59 A$25.31
-88.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.73 PKR 3,801
$82.6 A$119
-83.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 PKR 1,531
$10.31 A$14.84
-46.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 PKR 609
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.37 PKR 2,040
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.14 PKR 593
$3.88 A$5.59
-44.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 111
$2.83 A$4.07
-85.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 PKR 77.7
$2.19 A$3.15
-87.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$7.54 A$10.85
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.58 A$10.91
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 PKR 250
$1.52 A$2.19
-40.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 PKR 153
$2.72 A$3.91
-79.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 333
$2.26 A$3.25
-46.90%
Eggs
$1.25 PKR 346
$4.83 A$6.94
-74.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.96 PKR 1,650
$9.42 A$13.56
-36.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 PKR 883
$9.43 A$13.56
-66.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.48 PKR 1,793
$14.89 A$21.42
-56.48%
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 PKR 344
$3.97 A$5.72
-68.77%
Banana (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 147
$3.11 A$4.48
-82.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 284
$3.29 A$4.74
-68.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 142
$4.75 A$6.84
-89.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 85.1
$2.81 A$4.04
-88.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 87.1
$2.39 A$3.44
-87.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 PKR 113
$2.33 A$3.35
-82.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 PKR 120
$1.47 A$2.12
-70.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.31 PKR 362
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 PKR 369
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 PKR 670
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83 PKR 508
$41.46 A$59.7
-95.59%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.65 A$19.64
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.76 A$6.84
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.35 A$7.70
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 PKR 76.8
$2.89 A$4.16
-90.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.81 PKR 2,716
$82.2 A$118
-88.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 PKR 240
$3.38 A$4.87
-74.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 PKR 204
$1.58 A$2.27
-53.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 PKR 617
$39.46 A$56.8
-94.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 PKR 383
$1.36 A$1.96
1.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K PKR 5.1M
$27.0K A$38.8K
-31.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K PKR 7.3M
$29.6K A$42.6K
-10.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 PKR 31.4K
$202 A$290
-43.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.12 PKR 1,694
$27.87 A$40.10
-78.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.11 PKR 3,628
$55.4 A$79.7
-76.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.78 PKR 6,029
$56.7 A$81.6
-61.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.27 PKR 5,058
$17.66 A$25.42
3.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 PKR 1,179
$14.78 A$21.27
-71.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.1 PKR 14.4K
$2,176 A$3,131
-97.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,941 PKR 537.3K
$20.4K A$29.3K
-90.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.53 PKR 4,852
$77.6 A$112
-77.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.88 PKR 6,332
$54.7 A$78.6
-58.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.1 PKR 18.8K
$108 A$155
-36.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.55 PKR 11.5K
$120 A$173
-65.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 32.5K
$1,391 A$2,002
-91.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.2 PKR 20.3K
$1,176 A$1,692
-93.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 PKR 99.6K
$2,113 A$3,041
-82.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 PKR 52.1K
$1,779 A$2,559
-89.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,082 PKR 299.4K
$5,861 A$8,434
-81.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$474 PKR 131.2K
$4,940 A$7,109
-90.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Karratha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$182 PKR 50.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.21
5.84
126.20%

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

Last update for Karachi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Karratha: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
$133
Karratha
$285 115% $152
Groceries & Markets
Karachi
$102
Karratha
$368 261% $266
Accommodation & Living
Karachi
$73
Karratha
$1.2K 1507% $1.1K
Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
$68
Karratha
$162 140% $95
Eating Out
Karachi
$62
Karratha
$291 370% $229
Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
$30
Karratha
$86 185% $56
Getting Around
Karachi
$15
Karratha
$105 579% $90

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $1,391 in Karratha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $83.0 in Karratha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $368 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Karachi
🇦🇺 Karratha
🕒 Local time
02:45 2:45 AM
05:45 5:45 AM
3 h ahead of Karachi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,910,352
17,013
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karachi Karratha 7,400 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Karachi
  • Karratha

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Karratha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karachi and in Karratha?
Karachi and Karratha differ by about 412% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $2,473 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Karachi compared to Karratha?
You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $3,710 in Karratha 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Karachi and in Karratha?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Karachi versus $1,391 in Karratha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karachi or Karratha?
All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $2,473 in Karratha – a 412% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Karachi and in Karratha?
A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 738% less than in Karratha. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $483 in Karachi versus $2,473 in Karratha, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karachi but tight or insufficient in Karratha. The gap between the two cities makes Karachi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Karachi and Karratha?
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.
Is Karachi or Karratha safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Karachi and Karratha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Karachi or Karratha?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 412% less than in Karratha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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