Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Okara Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Okara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Karachi versus $301 in Okara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $442 in Okara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $583 in Okara.

Living in Karachi is roughly 61% more expensive than in Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.04 PKR 289

98.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$10.76 PKR 2,989

16.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$4.20 PKR 1,167

-5.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$2.90 PKR 807

-33.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$1.82 PKR 504

189.56%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.17 PKR 326

54.70%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.35 PKR 97.2

-5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.21 PKR 58.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.68 PKR 188

16.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.41 PKR 113

41.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.17 PKR 325

0.85%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.21 PKR 336

-4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$2.19 PKR 608

192.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.26 PKR 626

38.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.11 PKR 864

63.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.02 PKR 284

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.51 PKR 142

17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.43 PKR 119

113.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.47 PKR 132

21.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.33 PKR 90.6

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.48 PKR 132

4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.43 PKR 119

-16.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.27 PKR 74.9

51.85%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.06 PKR 294

17.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.36 PKR 101

266.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$0.86 PKR 238

139.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.54 PKR 428

40.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.12 PKR 32.44

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$2.80 PKR 778

129.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.74 PKR 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.49 PKR 136

24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.72 PKR 478

1.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.91 PKR 253

3.30%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

-4.29%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

9.42%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$87.6 PKR 24.3K

53.31%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$3.14 PKR 873

59.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$10.58 PKR 2,938

25.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.54 PKR 3,482

26.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$6.05 PKR 1,680

137.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.36 PKR 1,211

-0.46%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$13.98 PKR 3,883

320.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,235 PKR 342.8K

9.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$14.87 PKR 4,130

19.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$21.20 PKR 5,887

21.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$31.34 PKR 8,702

104.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$29.62 PKR 8,225

21.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$28.57 PKR 7,935

314.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$17.86 PKR 4,959

318.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$42.04 PKR 11.7K

658.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$31.72 PKR 8,808

471.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$981 PKR 272.4K

-5.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$483 PKR 134.2K

-10.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$141 PKR 39.2K

25.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

19.88

-10.46%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Okara: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $28.57 in Okara. 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 $11.00 in Okara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $67.0 per month, with Okara 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 Okara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Okara differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $301 including rent). Okara 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 $28.57 in Okara. 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 $301 in Okara – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Okara runs roughly 130% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Okara 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 Okara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.