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 $352 in Quetta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $723 in Karachi versus $550 in Quetta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $963 in Karachi versus $748 in Quetta.

Living in Karachi is roughly 37% more expensive than Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 PKR 598

$3.45 PKR 960

-37.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,457

$10.69 PKR 2,972

16.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 PKR 1,167

$4.40 PKR 1,223

-4.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 556

$1.80 PKR 500

11.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$1.57 PKR 435

246.50%

Cappuccino

$1.83 PKR 508

$1.62 PKR 449

12.96%

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

$0.34 PKR 93.4

$0.42 PKR 118

-19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.2

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.74 PKR 207

9.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.46 PKR 129

19.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.07 PKR 298

6.54%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.08 PKR 299

7.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 PKR 1,847

$5.94 PKR 1,652

11.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 PKR 912

$2.49 PKR 691

31.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 PKR 1,440

$4.24 PKR 1,178

22.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.07 PKR 298

-3.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 165

$0.56 PKR 155

5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 PKR 245

$0.57 PKR 158

54.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.52 PKR 145

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.7

$0.29 PKR 80.6

24.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.50 PKR 139

-6.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.35 PKR 98.2

8.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 112

$0.30 PKR 83.3

33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.42 PKR 395

-8.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 354

$0.36 PKR 101

252.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 PKR 596

$2.15 PKR 598

-0.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 573

$0.72 PKR 201

186.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.18 PKR 49.40

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.49 PKR 1,803

$5.36 PKR 1,491

21.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.33 PKR 92.5

124.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.65 PKR 180

3.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 495

$1.72 PKR 479

3.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.96 PKR 266

-9.37%

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

$16.5K PKR 4.6M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-23.74%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

100.53%

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

$135 PKR 37.6K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

156.98%

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

$4.93 PKR 1,371

$6.38 PKR 1,774

-22.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 PKR 3,713

$13.98 PKR 3,887

-4.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.63 PKR 4,345

$5.09 PKR 1,415

207.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.40 PKR 4,003

$5.81 PKR 1,614

147.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$2.89 PKR 804

50.52%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$35.09 PKR 9,756

65.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,354 PKR 376.4K

$424 PKR 117.8K

219.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.69 PKR 4,918

$7.22 PKR 2,006

145.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 PKR 6,968

$6.98 PKR 1,941

259.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-28.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.14 PKR 10.0K

$29.19 PKR 8,116

23.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.5K

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

72.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

49.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 PKR 88.5K

$157 PKR 43.7K

102.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 PKR 49.8K

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

87.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$998 PKR 277.5K

$381 PKR 106.0K

161.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.9K

$220 PKR 61.3K

110.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.5K

$213 PKR 59.3K

-19.84%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Karachi and $69.9 in Quetta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 25% 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 $98.0 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 37% in total monthly costs ($483 vs $352 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Quetta earns 25% less. 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: $120 in Karachi versus $69.9 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 $352 in Quetta – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 21% 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 37% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.