Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Langfang

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $483 a month against $690 in Langfang, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$483
/mo nomad
Langfang
🇨🇳 China
$690
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karachi and in Langfang

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 Langfang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $673 in Langfang.

  • Karachi $483
  • Langfang $673

Estimated couple costs with rent: $754 in Karachi versus $1,129 in Langfang.

  • Karachi $754
  • Langfang $1,129

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,025 in Karachi versus $1,584 in Langfang.

  • Karachi $1,025
  • Langfang $1,584

Living in Karachi costs roughly 28% less than in Langfang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Langfang 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11 PKR 585
$3.03 ¥20.28
-30.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.73 PKR 3,801
$19.58 ¥131
-29.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 PKR 1,531
$4.36 ¥29.14
26.83%
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
$3.03 ¥20.29
-29.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 111
$0.39 ¥2.62
2.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 PKR 77.7
$0.28 ¥1.88
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.66 ¥4.38
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51 ¥10.06
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 PKR 250
$1.48 ¥9.89
-39.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 PKR 153
$2.34 ¥15.61
-76.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 333
$1.61 ¥10.79
-25.47%
Eggs
$1.25 PKR 346
$1.33 ¥8.88
-6.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.96 PKR 1,650
$14.77 ¥98.7
-59.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 PKR 883
$3.61 ¥24.15
-11.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.48 PKR 1,793
$9.36 ¥62.6
-30.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 PKR 344
$1.65 ¥11.05
-24.85%
Banana (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 147
$1.59 ¥10.65
-66.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 284
$1.77 ¥11.83
-41.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 142
$1.18 ¥7.89
-56.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 85.1
$0.88 ¥5.86
-64.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 87.1
$1.22 ¥8.15
-74.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 PKR 113
$0.68 ¥4.53
-39.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 PKR 120
$0.58 ¥3.86
-24.14%
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
$3.01 ¥20.15
-39.20%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.35 ¥89.3
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.44 ¥2.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 ¥7.95
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 PKR 76.8
$0.29 ¥1.93
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.81 PKR 2,716
$17.80 ¥119
-44.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 PKR 240
$0.89 ¥5.94
-2.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 PKR 204
$0.31 ¥2.10
138.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 PKR 617
$3.57 ¥23.86
-37.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 PKR 383
$1.04 ¥6.95
32.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K PKR 5.1M
$16.5K ¥110.6K
10.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K PKR 7.3M
$13.3K ¥88.7K
99.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 PKR 31.4K
$40.35 ¥270
180.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.12 PKR 1,694
$6.44 ¥43.07
-4.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.11 PKR 3,628
$7.58 ¥50.7
72.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.78 PKR 6,029
$40.94 ¥274
-46.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.27 PKR 5,058
$15.21 ¥102
20.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 PKR 1,179
$4.53 ¥30.30
-5.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.1 PKR 14.4K
$649 ¥4,342
-91.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,941 PKR 537.3K
$7,327 ¥49.0K
-73.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.53 PKR 4,852
$56.3 ¥376
-68.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.88 PKR 6,332
$28.37 ¥190
-19.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.1 PKR 18.8K
$45.59 ¥305
49.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.55 PKR 11.5K
$44.59 ¥298
-6.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 32.5K
$304 ¥2,030
-61.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.2 PKR 20.3K
$186 ¥1,241
-60.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 PKR 99.6K
$628 ¥4,200
-42.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 PKR 52.1K
$369 ¥2,468
-48.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,082 PKR 299.4K
$3,516 ¥23.5K
-69.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$474 PKR 131.2K
$1,938 ¥13.0K
-75.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Langfang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$182 PKR 50.4K
$518 ¥3,461
-64.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.21
3.54
273.16%

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

Last update for Karachi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Langfang: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
$133
Langfang
$54 59% $78
Groceries & Markets
Karachi
$102
Langfang
$217 113% $115
Accommodation & Living
Karachi
$73
Langfang
$186 154% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
$68
Langfang
$79 16.5% $11
Eating Out
Karachi
$62
Langfang
$83 33.6% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
$30
Langfang
$50 65% $20
Getting Around
Karachi
$15
Langfang
$21 38.3% $5.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $285 in Langfang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Langfang pays 192% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $20.00 in Langfang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $220 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Karachi
🇨🇳 Langfang
🕒 Local time
14:52 2:52 PM
17:52 5:52 PM
3 h ahead of Karachi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,910,352
1,147,591
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, 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).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karachi Langfang 4,880 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Karachi
  • Langfang

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 Langfang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karachi and in Langfang?
Karachi and Langfang differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $673 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 192% lower in Langfang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Karachi and in Langfang?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Karachi versus $285 in Langfang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karachi or Langfang?
All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $673 in Langfang – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Karachi and in Langfang?
A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 85% less than in Langfang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $1,200 go in Karachi compared to Langfang?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Karachi and Langfang?
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.
Where should expats move: Karachi or Langfang?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Langfang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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