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: $484 in Karachi versus $437 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $671 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $905 in Rawalpindi.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Rawalpindi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 571

$1.82 PKR 504

13.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,482

$13.95 PKR 3,868

-9.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,107

$5.40 PKR 1,497

-26.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 536

$1.56 PKR 433

23.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$3.53 PKR 979

49.29%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.71 PKR 474

5.85%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.31 PKR 87.0

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.23 PKR 63.8

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.86 PKR 239

-8.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.53 PKR 146

9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.30 PKR 360

-9.23%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.12 PKR 311

2.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,779

$6.03 PKR 1,672

6.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 866

$3.43 PKR 952

-9.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,411

$4.40 PKR 1,220

15.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.01 PKR 279

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.69 PKR 191

-13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.85 PKR 235

8.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.47 PKR 129

21.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.1

$0.34 PKR 94.0

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.52 PKR 145

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.6

$0.24 PKR 65.9

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.39 PKR 109

5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$16.04 PKR 4,448

-92.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.99 PKR 274

33.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.40 PKR 665

-14.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 598

$1.91 PKR 531

13.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.20 PKR 56.1

65.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,783

$9.52 PKR 2,641

-32.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.86 PKR 239

-13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.32 PKR 89.6

90.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 483

$2.92 PKR 810

-40.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.97 PKR 270

-3.09%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

-5.11%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

10.98%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$104 PKR 28.8K

29.58%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,386

$4.04 PKR 1,120

23.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,684

$16.63 PKR 4,612

-20.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,401

$9.97 PKR 2,764

59.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,979

$7.43 PKR 2,060

93.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,205

$3.47 PKR 962

25.07%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

46.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.2K

$948 PKR 262.9K

43.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,912

$11.90 PKR 3,299

48.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,153

$18.45 PKR 5,118

39.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$89.5 PKR 24.8K

-28.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,940

$29.00 PKR 8,042

23.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-10.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

14.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.5K

$330 PKR 91.5K

-3.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$171 PKR 47.4K

6.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.4K

$1,176 PKR 326.1K

-20.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.2K

$518 PKR 143.6K

-16.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$175 PKR 48.4K

1.35%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 1% 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: $13.00 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 ($484 vs $437 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1% 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: $118 in Karachi versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $437 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 48% 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.