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: $476 in Karachi versus $498 in Okara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $718 in Okara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $939 in Okara.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 4% less than in Okara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Okara 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.52 PKR 698

-12.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,785

$14.23 PKR 3,942

-4.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.56 PKR 1,539

-0.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 595

$3.53 PKR 978

-39.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$5.44 PKR 1,508

35.29%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$2.58 PKR 715

-13.57%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.39 PKR 108

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.26 PKR 72.6

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.62 PKR 172

37.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.67 PKR 186

-17.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.16 PKR 323

3.45%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.18 PKR 326

3.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$6.32 PKR 1,751

-1.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$2.53 PKR 702

22.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,761

$4.95 PKR 1,371

28.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$1.22 PKR 339

4.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.68 PKR 189

-20.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$0.86 PKR 239

20.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.65 PKR 181

-6.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.30 PKR 83.8

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.33 PKR 91.0

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.50 PKR 138

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.37 PKR 102

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.05 PKR 291

21.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$0.65 PKR 180

112.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$1.73 PKR 479

39.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.14 PKR 592

-14.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.19 PKR 52.9

47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$10.14 PKR 2,809

-20.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.89 PKR 245

-16.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.73 PKR 203

1.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$1.77 PKR 491

19.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$0.93 PKR 256

41.94%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

1.86%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

3.69%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-16.34%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$5.34 PKR 1,480

9.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$16.58 PKR 4,594

-21.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,927

$6.17 PKR 1,708

246.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$4.25 PKR 1,176

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$14.66 PKR 4,061

241.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$1,987 PKR 550.4K

-20.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$17.30 PKR 4,791

-9.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,218

$26.97 PKR 7,470

-16.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$75.6 PKR 20.9K

-9.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$31.95 PKR 8,851

21.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$127 PKR 35.2K

-12.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

-6.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$271 PKR 75.0K

20.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$130 PKR 36.0K

39.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$806 PKR 223.3K

26.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

$489 PKR 135.3K

-0.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

$142 PKR 39.4K

24.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

14.28

-9.80%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Okara: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Karachi pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Okara. Groceries flip the comparison at $102 vs $94.0, with Okara cheaper for home cooking.

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 5% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $498 including rent). Karachi 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 Okara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $476 per month in Karachi versus $498 in Okara – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 25% less than in Okara. 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 Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Okara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.