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: $457 in Karachi versus $504 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $786 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $1,069 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 9% less than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Rawalpindi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$2.12 PKR 588

3.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,973

$15.93 PKR 4,415

-10.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.89 PKR 1,633

-10.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$1.81 PKR 502

18.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

$3.52 PKR 976

109.09%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.94 PKR 537

13.40%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.44 PKR 122

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-8.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.90 PKR 250

-1.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.55 PKR 152

-5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.23 PKR 342

0.81%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.11 PKR 307

9.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$6.16 PKR 1,708

0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$3.57 PKR 988

-15.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$5.22 PKR 1,446

17.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.14 PKR 316

7.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.86 PKR 237

-36.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.23 PKR 340

-20.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.57 PKR 158

3.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.1

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.46 PKR 127

-32.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 92.1

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.40 PKR 111

7.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$16.28 PKR 4,514

-92.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.20 PKR 332

10.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.46 PKR 681

0.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.93 PKR 534

-7.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.16 PKR 43.61

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,273

$10.12 PKR 2,806

-18.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.91 PKR 253

-18.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.38 PKR 104

84.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$3.16 PKR 876

-30.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.13 PKR 312

17.70%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

-0.98%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

10.40%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$115 PKR 31.9K

-9.75%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,629

$5.49 PKR 1,522

7.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,564

$18.67 PKR 5,174

-31.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,632

$12.12 PKR 3,360

67.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,173

$6.75 PKR 1,871

176.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.28 PKR 1,187

2.80%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

3.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

$844 PKR 233.9K

62.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,106

$20.85 PKR 5,779

-28.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,070

$28.03 PKR 7,769

-21.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

-28.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,925

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

-1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$204 PKR 56.6K

-45.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

-13.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$438 PKR 121.5K

-32.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$225 PKR 62.5K

-20.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.6K

$1,164 PKR 322.7K

-16.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.5K

$512 PKR 142.0K

-8.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$175 PKR 48.4K

4.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

22.81

-43.53%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $204 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 4% 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 $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $103 per month, with Karachi 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 Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Rawalpindi differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $504 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 4% 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 $204 in Rawalpindi. 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 $504 in Rawalpindi – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 23% less than in Rawalpindi. 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 Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.