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: $457 in Karachi versus $417 in Peshawar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $600 in Peshawar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $783 in Peshawar.

Living in Karachi is roughly 10% more expensive than in Peshawar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Peshawar 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 612

$2.46 PKR 681

-10.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,976

$8.76 PKR 2,431

63.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$4.77 PKR 1,324

10.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

$2.21 PKR 614

-3.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,041

$2.87 PKR 796

156.45%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.25 PKR 346

76.00%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$0.31 PKR 84.9

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.4

$0.16 PKR 45.46

43.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.98 PKR 273

-9.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.74 PKR 205

-29.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.08 PKR 300

14.81%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.12 PKR 309

8.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,716

$3.45 PKR 957

79.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$3.10 PKR 861

-2.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,696

$3.64 PKR 1,010

67.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.23 PKR 342

-0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.51 PKR 143

7.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.63 PKR 174

55.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.46 PKR 127

28.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.29 PKR 81.0

17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.3

$0.31 PKR 85.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.27 PKR 74.5

44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.25 PKR 68.5

72.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.94 PKR 540

-35.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.70 PKR 194

88.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$0.73 PKR 204

239.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.85 PKR 512

-3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.6

$0.23 PKR 64.0

21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,275

$12.67 PKR 3,516

-35.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.10 PKR 304

-32.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.46 PKR 404

50.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.11 PKR 307

19.82%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

-20.95%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

10.30%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$101 PKR 28.2K

2.27%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,631

$5.77 PKR 1,600

1.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,567

$14.47 PKR 4,016

-11.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,637

$15.55 PKR 4,314

30.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,177

$6.05 PKR 1,677

208.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,222

$1.92 PKR 534

129.17%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$46.40 PKR 12.9K

8.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

$4,981 PKR 1.4M

-72.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,109

$7.10 PKR 1,969

108.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,076

$16.36 PKR 4,540

33.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$51.3 PKR 14.2K

27.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,933

$39.09 PKR 10.8K

-8.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$127 PKR 35.1K

-12.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

-10.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.3K

$199 PKR 55.3K

48.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$119 PKR 33.1K

51.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$151 PKR 42.0K

20.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

17.09%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Karachi pays 20% 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: $14.00 in Karachi vs $9.00 in Peshawar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 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 10% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $417 including rent). Peshawar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 20% 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 Peshawar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $417 in Peshawar – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 55% 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 10% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.