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 $433 in Mardan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $732 in Karachi versus $641 in Mardan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Karachi versus $848 in Mardan.

Living in Karachi is roughly 10% 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

$2.11 PKR 587

$2.18 PKR 607

-3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.18 PKR 3,396

$14.39 PKR 4,012

-15.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 PKR 1,174

$5.35 PKR 1,491

-21.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 536

$1.75 PKR 488

9.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 PKR 1,496

$3.93 PKR 1,097

36.64%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 504

$2.06 PKR 574

-12.14%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.29 PKR 79.8

17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.4

$0.22 PKR 61.0

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 235

$0.78 PKR 216

7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 152

$0.65 PKR 182

-16.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$0.84 PKR 233

34.52%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 324

$1.16 PKR 322

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,772

$6.03 PKR 1,680

5.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 887

$2.39 PKR 666

33.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 PKR 1,429

$3.10 PKR 866

65.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 292

$0.74 PKR 205

41.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 163

$0.55 PKR 152

5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.95 PKR 266

-1.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.30 PKR 84.8

86.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.24 PKR 66.8

62.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.37 PKR 102

27.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.31 PKR 86.1

16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.15 PKR 41.17

186.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.41 PKR 392

$1.98 PKR 552

-28.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PKR 363

$0.87 PKR 243

49.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 571

$1.99 PKR 554

3.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 PKR 608

$1.37 PKR 383

59.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.18 PKR 49.01

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.54 PKR 1,823

$7.04 PKR 1,964

-7.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.36 PKR 102

105.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 174

$0.34 PKR 96.0

82.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$1.81 PKR 506

-2.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.97 PKR 271

-3.09%

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

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

-21.51%

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

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

-4.70%

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

$137 PKR 38.3K

$114 PKR 31.8K

20.31%

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

$4.99 PKR 1,390

$5.37 PKR 1,497

-7.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 PKR 3,787

$18.43 PKR 5,137

-26.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.81 PKR 4,408

$12.43 PKR 3,464

27.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.27 PKR 3,978

$5.91 PKR 1,647

141.46%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,195

$4.18 PKR 1,165

2.63%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

$17.36 PKR 4,839

238.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 382.8K

$1,128 PKR 314.4K

21.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.85 PKR 4,976

$21.42 PKR 5,970

-16.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.82 PKR 7,197

$27.91 PKR 7,781

-7.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

$89.5 PKR 25.0K

-27.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

$17.55 PKR 4,893

107.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.6K

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

58.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

45.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 PKR 89.5K

$164 PKR 45.8K

95.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$108 PKR 30.1K

68.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 PKR 46.6K

$270 PKR 75.2K

-38.04%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mardan: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $75.8 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mardan pays 61% 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 10% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $433 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Mardan earns 61% 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: $120 in Karachi versus $75.8 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 $433 in Mardan – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mardan runs roughly 8% 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 10% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.