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: $483 in Karachi versus $346 in Quetta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Karachi versus $537 in Quetta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $979 in Karachi versus $728 in Quetta.

Living in Karachi is roughly 40% more expensive than in Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$3.52 PKR 977

-41.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,373

$10.63 PKR 2,950

14.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 PKR 1,111

$4.38 PKR 1,216

-8.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

$1.72 PKR 478

11.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

$1.55 PKR 431

243.87%

Cappuccino

$1.85 PKR 513

$1.70 PKR 471

8.82%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.42 PKR 117

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.20 PKR 55.4

15.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.74 PKR 206

13.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.46 PKR 128

26.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.03 PKR 285

8.74%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.12 PKR 310

4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,744

$5.92 PKR 1,644

6.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 884

$2.58 PKR 716

23.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 PKR 1,396

$4.12 PKR 1,143

22.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.04 PKR 289

0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.55 PKR 154

7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.57 PKR 157

61.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.48 PKR 133

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.31 PKR 87.2

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.48 PKR 132

-2.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.35 PKR 98.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.32 PKR 90.1

37.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.45 PKR 402

-11.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.34 PKR 93.1

273.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

$2.09 PKR 581

-1.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$0.69 PKR 192

201.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.16 PKR 43.93

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.42 PKR 1,782

$5.23 PKR 1,453

22.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.36 PKR 101

91.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 PKR 184

$0.62 PKR 171

6.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$1.73 PKR 481

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 254

$0.97 PKR 268

-5.15%

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

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-21.93%

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

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

$12.1K PKR 3.4M

103.82%

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

$133 PKR 36.8K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

152.24%

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

$4.86 PKR 1,349

$6.41 PKR 1,778

-24.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 PKR 3,779

$14.32 PKR 3,975

-4.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.31 PKR 4,250

$4.96 PKR 1,378

208.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 PKR 4,038

$5.76 PKR 1,600

152.60%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 PKR 1,142

$2.90 PKR 805

41.72%

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

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$34.09 PKR 9,461

68.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

$417 PKR 115.7K

232.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 PKR 4,847

$6.98 PKR 1,937

150.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 PKR 7,188

$7.24 PKR 2,010

257.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

$87.1 PKR 24.2K

-27.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

$29.59 PKR 8,213

23.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.0K

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

70.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

$49.30 PKR 13.7K

53.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.2K

$159 PKR 44.1K

100.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 PKR 51.3K

$96.5 PKR 26.8K

91.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$912 PKR 253.2K

$376 PKR 104.2K

142.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 PKR 122.5K

$214 PKR 59.3K

106.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

$271 PKR 75.3K

-34.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

48.33%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Quetta: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Karachi and $69.8 in Quetta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Quetta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $84.0 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 40% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $346 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 52% 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: $119 in Karachi versus $69.8 in Quetta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $483 per month in Karachi versus $346 in Quetta – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 23% 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 40% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.