Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mardan Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mardan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Karachi versus $424 in Mardan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Karachi versus $638 in Mardan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Karachi versus $851 in Mardan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 14% more expensive than in Mardan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Mardan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.06 PKR 571

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,373

$14.31 PKR 3,970

-15.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,111

$5.36 PKR 1,487

-25.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

$1.73 PKR 479

10.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

$4.00 PKR 1,110

33.25%

Cappuccino

$1.85 PKR 513

$2.00 PKR 556

-7.50%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.31 PKR 87.1

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.24 PKR 66.7

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.77 PKR 214

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.62 PKR 171

-6.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 310

$0.84 PKR 233

33.33%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.19 PKR 331

-1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,744

$6.33 PKR 1,756

-0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 884

$2.31 PKR 641

37.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 PKR 1,396

$3.26 PKR 904

54.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.69 PKR 191

52.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.55 PKR 152

7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.96 PKR 268

-4.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.33 PKR 92.6

63.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.24 PKR 66.6

45.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.37 PKR 102

27.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.33 PKR 91.8

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.13 PKR 35.05

238.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.43 PKR 396

-9.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.88 PKR 243

44.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

$1.96 PKR 543

4.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$1.43 PKR 398

45.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.18 PKR 49.54

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.42 PKR 1,782

$6.89 PKR 1,911

-6.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.36 PKR 101

91.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.34 PKR 94.9

94.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.81 PKR 502

-4.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.89 PKR 248

3.37%

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

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-20.90%

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

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-5.99%

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

$133 PKR 36.8K

$112 PKR 31.1K

18.24%

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

$4.86 PKR 1,349

$5.55 PKR 1,540

-12.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 PKR 3,779

$18.45 PKR 5,120

-26.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.31 PKR 4,250

$12.30 PKR 3,414

24.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 PKR 4,038

$5.99 PKR 1,664

142.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 PKR 1,142

$4.26 PKR 1,181

-3.52%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$17.48 PKR 4,851

229.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

$1,112 PKR 308.7K

24.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 PKR 4,847

$21.33 PKR 5,920

-18.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 PKR 7,188

$27.63 PKR 7,669

-6.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

$89.2 PKR 24.8K

-28.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

$17.39 PKR 4,827

109.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.0K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

57.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

45.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.2K

$167 PKR 46.3K

90.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 PKR 51.3K

$105 PKR 29.1K

76.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$912 PKR 253.2K

$867 PKR 240.6K

5.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 PKR 122.5K

$511 PKR 141.9K

-13.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

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 26, 2026

Last update for Mardan: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Karachi and $75.5 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Mardan. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $79.0, with Mardan cheaper for home cooking.

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 Mardan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Mardan differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $424 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $725 in Karachi and $636 in Mardan 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: $119 in Karachi versus $75.5 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $424 in Mardan – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mardan runs roughly 7% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Mardan 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 Mardan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.