Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Peshawar Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Peshawar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Karachi versus $372 in Peshawar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $554 in Peshawar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $736 in Peshawar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 30% more expensive than in Peshawar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Peshawar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.34 PKR 651

-11.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$10.75 PKR 2,985

16.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$3.60 PKR 1,000

10.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.43 PKR 398

34.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$2.61 PKR 725

101.92%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.82 PKR 506

-0.55%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.28 PKR 76.8

17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.18 PKR 49.00

16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.81 PKR 225

-2.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.57 PKR 158

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.12 PKR 312

5.36%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.19 PKR 330

-3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$3.38 PKR 939

89.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$3.14 PKR 872

-0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.78 PKR 1,051

34.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.04 PKR 288

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.61 PKR 169

-1.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.92 PKR 255

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.43 PKR 119

32.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.40 PKR 110

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.45 PKR 125

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.24 PKR 66.7

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.32 PKR 88.8

28.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.68 PKR 190

83.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$1.63 PKR 452

-19.02%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$3.60 PKR 999

-42.78%

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

$0.20 PKR 55.1

65.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$6.91 PKR 1,918

-6.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.69 PKR 190

7.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.73 PKR 204

-16.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.81 PKR 504

-3.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.00 PKR 278

-6.00%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

40.16%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

12.02%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$98.5 PKR 27.3K

36.48%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$4.32 PKR 1,201

15.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$10.62 PKR 2,949

25.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$9.96 PKR 2,766

59.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$6.66 PKR 1,850

115.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.19 PKR 1,164

3.58%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$29.39 PKR 8,162

99.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$518 PKR 143.7K

162.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$13.06 PKR 3,628

35.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$19.62 PKR 5,447

31.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$38.69 PKR 10.7K

66.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$32.49 PKR 9,022

10.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$120 PKR 33.2K

-1.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

44.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$202 PKR 56.1K

58.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$95.0 PKR 26.4K

90.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$128 PKR 35.5K

38.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

21.17

-15.92%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $120 in Peshawar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 39% 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 Peshawar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $82.0 per month, with Peshawar 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 Peshawar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Peshawar differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $372 including rent). Peshawar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 39% 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 $120 in Peshawar. 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 $372 in Peshawar – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 7% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Peshawar 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 Peshawar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.