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: $457 in Karachi versus $439 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $654 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $870 in Mehar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 4% more expensive than in Mehar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Mehar 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$2.02 PKR 561

8.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,973

$10.95 PKR 3,034

30.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$6.01 PKR 1,666

-12.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$2.62 PKR 726

-18.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,040

$5.02 PKR 1,392

46.61%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.56 PKR 433

41.03%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.33 PKR 90.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.20 PKR 55.7

15.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.82 PKR 228

8.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.64 PKR 176

-18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.18 PKR 327

5.08%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.25 PKR 345

-3.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$5.99 PKR 1,662

3.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.65 PKR 735

14.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$4.86 PKR 1,346

25.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.19 PKR 331

2.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.56 PKR 156

-1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.73 PKR 203

34.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.49 PKR 135

20.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.31 PKR 87.0

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.35 PKR 96.6

-11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.34 PKR 95.4

14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.33 PKR 92.1

30.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.98 PKR 550

-36.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.14 PKR 317

15.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.31 PKR 642

7.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.45 PKR 678

-26.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.20 PKR 54.2

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,273

$9.99 PKR 2,770

-17.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.13 PKR 313

-34.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.61 PKR 170

14.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.73 PKR 480

27.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.16 PKR 322

14.66%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

-21.59%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$28.7K PKR 8.0M

-3.86%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$95.3 PKR 26.4K

8.91%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,629

$5.51 PKR 1,527

6.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$14.66 PKR 4,063

-12.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,633

$14.55 PKR 4,034

39.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.38 PKR 1,213

0.46%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

13.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

$944 PKR 261.7K

45.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,106

$13.64 PKR 3,781

8.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,071

$22.66 PKR 6,283

-3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$65.6 PKR 18.2K

-0.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,926

$27.72 PKR 7,685

29.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$126 PKR 34.9K

-11.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$77.7 PKR 21.6K

-8.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$255 PKR 70.6K

16.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$149 PKR 41.2K

21.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.7K

$953 PKR 264.2K

2.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$510 PKR 141.3K

-8.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$106 PKR 29.5K

70.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mehar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $126 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 71% 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: $14.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Mehar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $92.0 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 4% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $439 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 71% higher in Karachi, 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: $111 in Karachi versus $126 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $439 in Mehar – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 22% 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 4% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.