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: $477 in Karachi versus $296 in Okara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $438 in Okara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $579 in Okara.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Okara 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.04 PKR 289

105.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$10.71 PKR 2,980

16.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$4.35 PKR 1,211

-6.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.87 PKR 798

-30.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,452

$1.72 PKR 478

203.49%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.19 PKR 330

58.82%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.35 PKR 98.5

2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.72 PKR 201

15.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.43 PKR 120

34.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.21 PKR 336

-6.61%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.18 PKR 327

2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$2.27 PKR 631

177.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.25 PKR 625

41.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.13 PKR 872

56.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.05 PKR 293

-1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.52 PKR 144

11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.39 PKR 110

138.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.47 PKR 131

19.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 98.1

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.52 PKR 146

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.39 PKR 110

-2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.27 PKR 75.0

59.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.94 PKR 260

36.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.36 PKR 100

250.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$0.92 PKR 256

126.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.47 PKR 410

41.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.12 PKR 32.84

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$2.77 PKR 771

128.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.74 PKR 207

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.49 PKR 136

24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.76 PKR 489

1.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.94 PKR 261

-2.13%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

-5.63%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

6.68%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

50.26%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.27 PKR 909

49.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$10.62 PKR 2,955

28.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,326

$12.25 PKR 3,408

26.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$5.79 PKR 1,611

147.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$4.16 PKR 1,158

4.09%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$13.91 PKR 3,869

316.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,219 PKR 339.1K

14.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$15.06 PKR 4,191

17.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$20.97 PKR 5,833

21.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$31.91 PKR 8,878

101.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$29.53 PKR 8,216

21.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$27.90 PKR 7,761

335.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$17.59 PKR 4,893

320.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$43.20 PKR 12.0K

647.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$31.84 PKR 8,858

471.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$916 PKR 254.7K

7.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$472 PKR 131.3K

-3.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$145 PKR 40.3K

24.75%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Okara: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $27.90 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: $12.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Okara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $68.0 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 ($477 vs $296 including rent). Okara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Karachi pays 25% 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 $27.90 in Okara. 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 $296 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 129% 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.