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: $481 in Karachi versus $391 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $589 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $989 in Karachi versus $786 in Mehar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 23% more expensive than in Mehar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 PKR 577

$1.81 PKR 502

14.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.33 PKR 3,424

$10.63 PKR 2,953

15.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.17 PKR 1,159

$4.01 PKR 1,114

3.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.74 PKR 483

14.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.24 PKR 1,456

$3.49 PKR 969

50.14%

Cappuccino

$1.87 PKR 519

$1.43 PKR 397

30.77%

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

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.31 PKR 87.1

19.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.75 PKR 209

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.60 PKR 168

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.21 PKR 335

-7.44%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.13 PKR 313

7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 PKR 1,776

$5.90 PKR 1,639

8.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 904

$2.59 PKR 718

25.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,403

$3.63 PKR 1,009

39.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.01 PKR 280

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.64 PKR 179

-7.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.63 PKR 174

38.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.52 PKR 145

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.34 PKR 95.0

14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.51 PKR 141

-1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.1

$0.34 PKR 93.2

5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.37 PKR 102

18.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.33 PKR 369

-6.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PKR 354

$0.87 PKR 241

47.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.04 PKR 567

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 PKR 592

$1.92 PKR 534

10.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.19 PKR 53.0

78.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.21 PKR 1,725

$7.05 PKR 1,957

-11.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 193

$0.92 PKR 254

-23.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.40 PKR 111

67.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.73 PKR 479

5.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.90 PKR 249

-3.33%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-21.21%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

10.54%

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

$132 PKR 36.7K

$103 PKR 28.5K

28.70%

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

$5.02 PKR 1,394

$3.94 PKR 1,095

27.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 PKR 3,708

$13.98 PKR 3,882

-4.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.80 PKR 4,386

$12.18 PKR 3,381

29.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.58 PKR 4,048

$5.88 PKR 1,633

147.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,190

$3.44 PKR 956

24.71%

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

$57.6 PKR 16.0K

$29.49 PKR 8,186

95.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 381.2K

$1,128 PKR 313.2K

21.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.75 PKR 4,928

$15.46 PKR 4,293

14.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 PKR 6,980

$22.26 PKR 6,180

12.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 PKR 18.1K

$70.4 PKR 19.5K

-7.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.37 PKR 9,819

$29.10 PKR 8,080

21.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.9K

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

62.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

44.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 PKR 87.0K

$165 PKR 45.9K

89.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 PKR 49.7K

$104 PKR 28.9K

71.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$918 PKR 254.8K

$787 PKR 218.5K

16.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$443 PKR 122.9K

$434 PKR 120.6K

1.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.5K

$109 PKR 30.3K

63.50%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mehar: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $75.2 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 63% 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 $86.0 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 23% in total monthly costs ($481 vs $391 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 63% 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: $122 in Karachi versus $75.2 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $481 per month in Karachi versus $391 in Mehar – a 23% 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 23% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.