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

😐 Solo nomad: Karachi is 1.1% more expensive than Rawalpindi without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Karachi is 1.1% more expensive than Rawalpindi without rent, and 9.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15 PKR 601
$1.80 PKR 502
19.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.35 PKR 3,445
$14.33 PKR 3,997
-13.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.22 PKR 1,178
$5.25 PKR 1,465
-19.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 PKR 552
$1.54 PKR 431
28.57%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19 PKR 1,449
$3.43 PKR 956
51.31%
Cappuccino
$1.88 PKR 524
$1.63 PKR 455
15.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 94.2
$0.32 PKR 88.3
6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.4
$0.21 PKR 58.6
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 PKR 225
$0.80 PKR 224
1.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 PKR 162
$0.56 PKR 156
3.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 316
$1.28 PKR 358
-11.72%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 326
$1.17 PKR 326
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.44 PKR 1,797
$6.27 PKR 1,749
2.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 PKR 874
$3.26 PKR 908
-3.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.15 PKR 1,437
$4.39 PKR 1,226
17.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 PKR 299
$0.94 PKR 262
13.83%
Banana (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 154
$0.69 PKR 192
-20.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 PKR 266
$0.85 PKR 237
12.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.47 PKR 130
21.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 107
$0.37 PKR 102
2.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 130
$0.51 PKR 143
-7.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 PKR 107
$0.26 PKR 73.1
46.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.36 PKR 101
11.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.63 PKR 456
$15.97 PKR 4,457
-89.79%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 PKR 352
$1.03 PKR 286
22.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 PKR 570
$2.30 PKR 642
-11.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 605
$1.92 PKR 537
13.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PKR 92.8
$0.19 PKR 53.0
73.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.23 PKR 1,738
$9.85 PKR 2,749
-36.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 PKR 207
$0.84 PKR 235
-11.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 PKR 181
$0.33 PKR 92.0
96.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 PKR 488
$2.99 PKR 834
-41.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 PKR 242
$0.94 PKR 263
-7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K PKR 4.6M
$17.8K PKR 5.0M
-7.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K PKR 7.0M
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
11.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 PKR 37.4K
$103 PKR 28.9K
29.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.86 PKR 1,355
$4.18 PKR 1,166
16.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.64 PKR 3,807
$16.52 PKR 4,610
-17.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.61 PKR 4,355
$9.86 PKR 2,751
58.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.21 PKR 3,966
$7.47 PKR 2,085
90.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22 PKR 1,177
$3.60 PKR 1,005
17.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.1 PKR 16.2K
$40.92 PKR 11.4K
41.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,405 PKR 392.0K
$965 PKR 269.3K
45.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.52 PKR 4,890
$11.87 PKR 3,313
47.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.62 PKR 7,149
$18.81 PKR 5,247
36.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 PKR 18.3K
$86.8 PKR 24.2K
-24.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.88 PKR 10.0K
$28.11 PKR 7,842
27.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 33.0K
$131 PKR 36.5K
-9.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.4 PKR 21.3K
$64.9 PKR 18.1K
17.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$324 PKR 90.3K
$334 PKR 93.1K
-3.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 PKR 50.8K
$173 PKR 48.2K
5.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$728 PKR 203.2K
$1,171 PKR 326.8K
-37.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$461 PKR 128.5K
$517 PKR 144.2K
-10.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Rawalpindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$171 PKR 47.7K
$172 PKR 48.0K
-0.47%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 13, 2026

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

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