Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mirpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Mirpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $365 in Mirpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $554 in Mirpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $743 in Mirpur.

Living in Karachi is roughly 25% more expensive than in Mirpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Mirpur 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$1.78 PKR 492

23.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,974

$7.42 PKR 2,058

93.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.43 PKR 1,506

-2.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$1.11 PKR 308

92.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,040

$1.78 PKR 494

313.48%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.10 PKR 304

100.00%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.47 PKR 130

-29.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.20 PKR 54.3

15.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.84 PKR 233

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.59 PKR 163

-11.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.21 PKR 335

2.48%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.19 PKR 330

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$3.52 PKR 976

75.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.66 PKR 736

13.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$3.95 PKR 1,094

54.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.08 PKR 301

12.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.62 PKR 172

-11.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.53 PKR 148

84.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.51 PKR 140

15.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.30 PKR 84.3

13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.30 PKR 83.6

3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.30 PKR 83.6

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.37 PKR 104

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.79 PKR 496

-30.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.05 PKR 292

25.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.83 PKR 785

-12.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.02 PKR 560

-11.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.17 PKR 45.81

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,274

$9.78 PKR 2,713

-16.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.10 PKR 306

-32.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.21 PKR 58.1

233.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.97 PKR 822

-25.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$0.98 PKR 273

35.71%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$8,886 PKR 2.5M

103.12%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$14.5K PKR 4.0M

90.50%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$68.2 PKR 18.9K

52.17%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,630

$5.72 PKR 1,585

2.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$14.71 PKR 4,078

-12.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,633

$15.03 PKR 4,167

35.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

$3.64 PKR 1,010

412.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.55 PKR 983

23.94%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$26.62 PKR 7,382

89.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

$2,058 PKR 570.6K

-33.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,107

$17.76 PKR 4,925

-16.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,072

$18.12 PKR 5,025

20.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$36.39 PKR 10.1K

79.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,927

$28.79 PKR 7,981

24.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$127 PKR 35.1K

-12.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$78.5 PKR 21.8K

-9.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$255 PKR 70.8K

16.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$151 PKR 41.9K

19.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.7K

$863 PKR 239.3K

13.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$499 PKR 138.4K

-6.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$145 PKR 40.2K

25.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

11.83

8.88%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mirpur: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $127 in Mirpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 25% 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 $7.00 in Mirpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $81.0 per month, with Mirpur 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 Mirpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Mirpur differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $365 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 25% 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 $127 in Mirpur. 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 $365 in Mirpur – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur runs roughly 19% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mirpur 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 Mirpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.