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: $484 in Karachi versus $320 in Mirpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $475 in Mirpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $630 in Mirpur.

Living in Karachi is roughly 51% more expensive than in Mirpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Mirpur 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.73 PKR 481

19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$7.39 PKR 2,053

69.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$3.55 PKR 986

12.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.40 PKR 389

37.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$1.74 PKR 483

202.87%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.47 PKR 408

23.13%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.27 PKR 74.3

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.19 PKR 51.9

10.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.76 PKR 212

3.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.52 PKR 144

11.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.27 PKR 352

-7.09%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$0.88 PKR 245

30.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$3.59 PKR 996

78.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.58 PKR 718

20.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.28 PKR 911

55.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.99 PKR 274

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.56 PKR 155

7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.66 PKR 184

39.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.51 PKR 142

11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.29 PKR 81.5

20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.29 PKR 80.6

72.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.29 PKR 81.1

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.37 PKR 102

10.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.03 PKR 287

21.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.92 PKR 255

43.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.98 PKR 549

4.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.88 PKR 522

14.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.16 PKR 43.68

106.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.26 PKR 2,015

-11.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.05 PKR 291

-29.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.50 PKR 138

22.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.81 PKR 504

-3.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.99 PKR 276

-5.05%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$8,902 PKR 2.5M

88.09%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$13.9K PKR 3.9M

82.01%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

132.98%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$1.74 PKR 484

187.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$12.77 PKR 3,546

3.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$7.26 PKR 2,017

118.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$3.59 PKR 998

299.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.62 PKR 1,004

19.89%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$27.77 PKR 7,710

111.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,121 PKR 311.3K

20.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$16.23 PKR 4,508

9.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$17.42 PKR 4,837

48.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$35.44 PKR 9,842

81.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$26.09 PKR 7,245

37.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$70.4 PKR 19.6K

67.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

38.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$105 PKR 29.0K

205.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$101 PKR 27.9K

79.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$850 PKR 235.9K

9.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$424 PKR 117.7K

2.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$141 PKR 39.3K

25.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-1.11%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mirpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $70.4 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: $13.00 in Karachi vs $7.00 in Mirpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $75.0 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 51% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $320 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: $118 in Karachi versus $70.4 in Mirpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $320 in Mirpur – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur runs roughly 13% 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 51% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.