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: $476 in Karachi versus $500 in Mardan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $767 in Mardan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $1,033 in Mardan.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 5% less than in Mardan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Mardan 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$3.59 PKR 994

-38.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,785

$23.00 PKR 6,371

-40.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.53 PKR 1,531

0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 595

$3.59 PKR 994

-40.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$6.92 PKR 1,918

6.36%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$2.62 PKR 725

-14.89%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.36 PKR 98.5

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.23 PKR 64.0

13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.91 PKR 252

-6.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.79 PKR 220

-30.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.29 PKR 357

-6.98%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.21 PKR 336

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$2.97 PKR 823

110.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$3.12 PKR 864

-0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,761

$3.74 PKR 1,035

70.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$0.94 PKR 260

35.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.74 PKR 205

-27.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$1.06 PKR 295

-1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.37 PKR 103

64.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.28 PKR 78.3

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.28 PKR 76.4

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.37 PKR 103

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.77 PKR 489

-27.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$1.18 PKR 326

16.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$2.69 PKR 746

-10.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$1.78 PKR 493

2.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.16 PKR 43.23

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$10.72 PKR 2,970

-24.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.30 PKR 359

-43.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$1.66 PKR 460

27.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.02 PKR 283

29.41%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-15.82%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

13.01%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$104 PKR 28.9K

4.53%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$5.69 PKR 1,575

2.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$15.72 PKR 4,353

-17.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,927

$14.73 PKR 4,079

45.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.34 PKR 1,203

-2.07%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

-33.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$1,028 PKR 284.9K

52.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$24.74 PKR 6,852

-36.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,218

$34.30 PKR 9,501

-34.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$98.1 PKR 27.2K

-30.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$40.71 PKR 11.3K

-4.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$128 PKR 35.4K

-12.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

-6.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$250 PKR 69.4K

30.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$151 PKR 41.7K

20.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$994 PKR 275.4K

2.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

$591 PKR 163.8K

-18.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

13.08

-1.53%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mardan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $128 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $23.00 in Mardan. Groceries flip the comparison at $102 vs $85.0, 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 5% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $500 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $714 in Karachi and $750 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: $111 in Karachi versus $128 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $476 per month in Karachi versus $500 in Mardan – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 33% less than in Mardan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Mardan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.