Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mehar Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mehar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Karachi versus $390 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $584 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $778 in Mehar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 22% more expensive than Mehar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Mehar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.75 PKR 488

22.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,462

$10.59 PKR 2,946

17.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$3.99 PKR 1,110

1.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.74 PKR 484

14.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,452

$3.44 PKR 957

51.74%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.44 PKR 402

31.25%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.35 PKR 96.3

2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.23 PKR 64.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.78 PKR 216

6.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.56 PKR 156

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.20 PKR 334

-5.83%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.17 PKR 326

3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.12 PKR 1,703

2.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.68 PKR 747

19.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.77 PKR 1,050

30.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.04 PKR 289

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.65 PKR 180

-10.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.61 PKR 170

52.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.48 PKR 133

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.38 PKR 105

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.33 PKR 93.1

15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.34 PKR 93.7

26.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.49 PKR 416

-14.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.93 PKR 259

35.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.03 PKR 565

2.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.92 PKR 535

8.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.20 PKR 55.2

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$7.24 PKR 2,013

-12.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.91 PKR 255

-18.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.44 PKR 122

38.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.82 PKR 507

-1.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.91 PKR 253

1.10%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-23.77%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

5.37%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$103 PKR 28.6K

28.52%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,363

$4.08 PKR 1,136

20.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,792

$13.55 PKR 3,770

0.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,327

$12.53 PKR 3,487

24.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,987

$5.98 PKR 1,665

139.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,204

$3.52 PKR 980

23.01%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$30.10 PKR 8,377

92.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 390.0K

$1,126 PKR 313.4K

24.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,934

$14.93 PKR 4,155

18.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,099

$21.83 PKR 6,076

16.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.9K

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

-8.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,979

$29.41 PKR 8,183

21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

64.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

45.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.9K

$167 PKR 46.6K

92.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$106 PKR 29.5K

71.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 274.0K

$1,059 PKR 294.8K

-7.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$463 PKR 128.9K

-1.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$106 PKR 29.5K

70.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-6.32%

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

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mehar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $73.9 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 70% 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: $12.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Mehar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $87.0 per month, with Mehar cheaper across the board.

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 Mehar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Mehar differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $390 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Karachi pays 70% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Karachi versus $73.9 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $390 in Mehar – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 14% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mehar 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 Mehar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.