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: $482 in Karachi versus $425 in Mardan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $737 in Karachi versus $639 in Mardan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $992 in Karachi versus $852 in Mardan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 13% more expensive than Mardan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 PKR 578

$2.16 PKR 601

-3.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,458

$14.27 PKR 3,966

-12.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 PKR 1,131

$5.24 PKR 1,458

-22.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.79 PKR 497

11.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 PKR 1,506

$3.90 PKR 1,085

38.97%

Cappuccino

$1.88 PKR 524

$2.02 PKR 560

-6.93%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.2

$0.29 PKR 79.8

17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.24 PKR 66.8

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 223

$0.77 PKR 213

3.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.63 PKR 175

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$0.84 PKR 235

33.33%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.18 PKR 329

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.61 PKR 1,838

$6.10 PKR 1,696

8.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 886

$2.37 PKR 658

34.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 PKR 1,408

$3.25 PKR 903

56.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$0.69 PKR 191

52.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.50 PKR 140

12.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.96 PKR 266

-7.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.33 PKR 91.9

72.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.7

$0.24 PKR 66.3

45.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.36 PKR 101

30.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.33 PKR 92.0

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.14 PKR 39.76

192.86%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.27 PKR 354

$1.45 PKR 404

-12.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 366

$0.93 PKR 257

41.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

$2.02 PKR 562

0.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 586

$1.45 PKR 404

45.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.15 PKR 42.86

140.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.24 PKR 1,734

$6.98 PKR 1,941

-10.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.34 PKR 93.5

114.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.35 PKR 96.4

74.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 487

$1.80 PKR 499

-2.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.98 PKR 271

-10.20%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-20.58%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$26.1K PKR 7.2M

-5.86%

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

$133 PKR 36.9K

$113 PKR 31.5K

17.24%

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

$5.11 PKR 1,419

$5.55 PKR 1,543

-7.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.67 PKR 3,801

$18.61 PKR 5,173

-26.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.52 PKR 4,315

$12.45 PKR 3,462

24.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 PKR 4,018

$5.99 PKR 1,666

141.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,172

$4.28 PKR 1,189

-1.64%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$17.48 PKR 4,860

231.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,384 PKR 384.8K

$1,117 PKR 310.7K

23.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.48 PKR 4,859

$21.77 PKR 6,053

-19.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.97 PKR 6,943

$28.11 PKR 7,815

-11.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

$88.0 PKR 24.5K

-26.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.19 PKR 10.1K

$18.03 PKR 5,012

100.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 PKR 32.6K

$74.8 PKR 20.8K

56.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.8 PKR 20.5K

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

43.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 PKR 86.7K

$169 PKR 47.1K

84.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.5K

$105 PKR 29.1K

73.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$929 PKR 258.2K

$752 PKR 209.0K

23.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$437 PKR 121.4K

$436 PKR 121.1K

0.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 PKR 48.9K

$275 PKR 76.4K

-36.00%

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Mardan: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Karachi and $74.8 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mardan pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Mardan. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $78.0, 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 13% in total monthly costs ($482 vs $425 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Mardan earns 56% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Karachi versus $74.8 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $482 per month in Karachi versus $425 in Mardan – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mardan runs roughly 12% 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 13% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.