Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Karachi versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Karachi is roughly 11% more expensive than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.78 PKR 496

20.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$14.22 PKR 3,957

-12.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-23.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.54 PKR 429

29.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$3.40 PKR 947

53.53%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.73 PKR 481

9.25%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.32 PKR 88.9

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.79 PKR 219

5.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.57 PKR 158

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.23 PKR 343

-8.13%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.12 PKR 311

8.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.09 PKR 1,693

3.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$3.39 PKR 944

-5.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$4.57 PKR 1,271

7.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 283

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.67 PKR 186

-13.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.92 PKR 257

1.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.47 PKR 132

19.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.33 PKR 93.2

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.52 PKR 144

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.26 PKR 72.7

46.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.37 PKR 102

16.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-92.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$1.04 PKR 288

21.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.41 PKR 669

-13.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.90 PKR 528

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.18 PKR 49.36

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-36.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.91 PKR 253

-18.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.35 PKR 97.5

74.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.97 PKR 826

-39.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.96 PKR 267

-4.17%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-8.83%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

7.52%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$100 PKR 28.0K

31.67%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.99 PKR 1,111

22.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$16.64 PKR 4,630

-18.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$10.14 PKR 2,821

53.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$7.67 PKR 2,134

86.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$3.60 PKR 1,003

20.28%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

45.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$962 PKR 267.6K

45.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$11.80 PKR 3,282

50.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$18.84 PKR 5,242

35.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-26.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,975

$28.38 PKR 7,896

26.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-6.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

11.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-0.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$173 PKR 48.1K

5.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-16.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

$516 PKR 143.5K

-11.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$171 PKR 47.6K

5.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

20.17

-11.75%

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

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 6% 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: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $95.0, with Rawalpindi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Rawalpindi differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $429 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Karachi pays 6% more on average, 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: $122 in Karachi versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $429 in Rawalpindi – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rawalpindi runs roughly 56% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.