Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $476 in Karachi versus $420 in Quetta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $617 in Quetta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $814 in Quetta.

Living in Karachi is roughly 13% more expensive than in Quetta, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 65% lower, Quetta 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 609

$3.70 PKR 1,026

-40.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 PKR 3,785

$10.78 PKR 2,987

26.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$4.53 PKR 1,255

22.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PKR 595

$1.81 PKR 502

18.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$5.27 PKR 1,460

39.66%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PKR 617

$1.59 PKR 442

40.25%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.39 PKR 107

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.4

$0.20 PKR 54.4

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 234

$0.69 PKR 192

23.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.56 PKR 155

-1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.23 PKR 341

-2.44%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.22 PKR 337

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PKR 1,727

$4.93 PKR 1,366

26.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 860

$2.83 PKR 785

9.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 PKR 1,761

$5.12 PKR 1,419

24.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 PKR 351

$0.93 PKR 258

36.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 150

$0.57 PKR 159

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 287

$0.69 PKR 190

50.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$0.55 PKR 153

10.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$0.30 PKR 82.0

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.56 PKR 156

-46.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.43 PKR 118

-6.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.39 PKR 108

10.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.75 PKR 485

-26.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 381

$1.08 PKR 300

27.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 666

$2.84 PKR 788

-15.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.09 PKR 579

-12.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.4

$0.13 PKR 36.35

115.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.08 PKR 2,239

$10.27 PKR 2,845

-21.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.04 PKR 288

-28.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 204

$0.43 PKR 120

72.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 583

$1.78 PKR 493

18.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 366

$1.07 PKR 296

23.36%

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

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

-24.89%

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

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

11.96%

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

$109 PKR 30.2K

$103 PKR 28.5K

5.79%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,614

$8.11 PKR 2,246

-28.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.96 PKR 3,589

$16.41 PKR 4,547

-21.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.39 PKR 5,927

$5.78 PKR 1,602

270.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 PKR 1,178

$3.33 PKR 923

27.63%

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

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

$34.78 PKR 9,635

44.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

$995 PKR 275.5K

57.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.72 PKR 4,355

$8.08 PKR 2,237

94.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 PKR 6,218

$22.81 PKR 6,318

-1.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

-3.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

$34.10 PKR 9,446

13.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

55.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

46.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 PKR 90.5K

$165 PKR 45.8K

97.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.1K

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

81.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

$376 PKR 104.3K

170.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

$219 PKR 60.6K

121.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

$274 PKR 75.9K

-35.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $71.4 in Quetta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 54% 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 $11.00 in Quetta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $89.0 per month, with Quetta 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 Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Quetta differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $420 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Quetta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $111 in Karachi versus $71.4 in Quetta. 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 $420 in Quetta – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 27% 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 Quetta 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 Quetta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.