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: $477 in Karachi versus $313 in Mirpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $473 in Mirpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $633 in Mirpur.

Living in Karachi is roughly 52% more expensive than Mirpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Mirpur 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.73 PKR 480

23.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$7.48 PKR 2,082

66.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$3.64 PKR 1,013

11.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.38 PKR 384

44.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$1.75 PKR 486

198.29%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.53 PKR 424

23.53%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.29 PKR 81.7

24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.16 PKR 43.84

43.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.70 PKR 195

18.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.51 PKR 141

13.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.30 PKR 361

-13.08%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$0.83 PKR 232

45.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$3.57 PKR 993

76.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.58 PKR 717

23.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.27 PKR 910

50.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.99 PKR 274

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.59 PKR 163

-1.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.62 PKR 173

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.52 PKR 144

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.27 PKR 74.2

44.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.29 PKR 81.7

75.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.27 PKR 74.9

40.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.33 PKR 93.1

30.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.95 PKR 265

34.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.85 PKR 237

48.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.06 PKR 573

0.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.83 PKR 509

13.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.18 PKR 49.70

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$7.10 PKR 1,974

-10.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.03 PKR 286

-28.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.50 PKR 139

22.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.76 PKR 488

1.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$8,947 PKR 2.5M

83.31%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$14.1K PKR 3.9M

73.63%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$57.4 PKR 16.0K

130.41%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$1.79 PKR 498

173.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$12.68 PKR 3,527

7.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$6.87 PKR 1,912

126.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$3.59 PKR 1,000

299.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$3.62 PKR 1,008

19.61%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$28.71 PKR 7,987

101.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,109 PKR 308.6K

26.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$16.34 PKR 4,545

8.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$17.71 PKR 4,927

44.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$35.90 PKR 9,988

78.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$26.09 PKR 7,259

37.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$71.0 PKR 19.7K

71.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

41.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$106 PKR 29.4K

205.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$99.9 PKR 27.8K

82.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$1,131 PKR 314.6K

-12.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$556 PKR 154.7K

-17.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$141 PKR 39.3K

27.71%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mirpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $71.0 in Mirpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 28% 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 $7.00 in Mirpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $74.0 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 52% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $313 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Karachi pays 28% 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 $71.0 in Mirpur. 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 $313 in Mirpur – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur runs roughly 12% 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 52% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.