Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Roxas

For one person, living is cheaper in Roxas: $379 a month against $482 in Karachi, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Karachi outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$482
/mo nomad
Roxas
🇵🇭 Philippines
$379
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karachi and in Roxas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Karachi and in Roxas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $482 in Karachi versus $379 in Roxas.

  • Karachi $482
  • Roxas $379

Estimated couple costs with rent: $750 in Karachi versus $602 in Roxas.

  • Karachi $750
  • Roxas $602

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,018 in Karachi versus $826 in Roxas.

  • Karachi $1,018
  • Roxas $826

Living in Karachi is roughly 27% more expensive than in Roxas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Roxas 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 PKR 588
$2.86 ₱180
-25.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.30 PKR 3,680
$19.03 ₱1,198
-30.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 PKR 1,508
$2.41 ₱152
126.14%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 PKR 607
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24 PKR 2,005
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.09 PKR 579
$1.86 ₱117
12.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 111
$0.46 ₱28.68
-13.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 PKR 71.1
$0.14 ₱8.66
85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.10 ₱69.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.79 ₱113
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 254
$1.60 ₱101
-42.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 156
$0.88 ₱55.2
-36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 PKR 345
$0.89 ₱56.1
40.45%
Eggs
$1.23 PKR 341
$1.88 ₱118
-34.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.67 PKR 1,570
$5.99 ₱377
-5.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 PKR 876
$3.96 ₱249
-20.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.28 PKR 1,737
$6.34 ₱399
-0.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 348
$1.63 ₱103
-22.70%
Banana (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 148
$0.94 ₱59.1
-43.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 276
$1.25 ₱78.9
-20.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 154
$0.77 ₱48.19
-27.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 91.4
$1.00 ₱63.1
-67.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 PKR 95.1
$0.99 ₱62.3
-65.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 PKR 116
$1.39 ₱87.3
-69.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 PKR 121
$0.77 ₱48.29
-42.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.25 PKR 346
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 PKR 365
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 PKR 670
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.84 PKR 509
$2.19 ₱138
-15.98%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.50 ₱409
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14 ₱71.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.29 ₱81.4
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 PKR 77.0
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.99 PKR 2,764
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 PKR 256
$0.83 ₱52.1
10.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 PKR 193
$0.33 ₱20.97
112.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 PKR 597
$2.36 ₱149
-8.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 PKR 382
$1.02 ₱63.9
35.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
$21.7K ₱1.4M
-17.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K PKR 7.5M
$19.6K ₱1.2M
38.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 PKR 31.4K
$62.3 ₱3,919
82.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.95 PKR 1,648
$7.83 ₱493
-24.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.16 PKR 3,642
$21.89 ₱1,378
-39.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.55 PKR 5,965
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.23 PKR 5,044
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.21 PKR 1,165
$4.88 ₱307
-13.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.2 PKR 14.4K
$31.94 ₱2,011
63.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,940 PKR 537.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.55 PKR 4,858
$23.93 ₱1,507
-26.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.51 PKR 6,506
$17.18 ₱1,082
36.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 PKR 19.1K
$55.7 ₱3,504
23.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.59 PKR 11.2K
$24.03 ₱1,513
68.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 32.7K
$318 ₱20.0K
-62.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.6 PKR 20.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$357 PKR 98.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 PKR 52.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,060 PKR 293.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$481 PKR 133.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Roxas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$183 PKR 50.6K
$575 ₱36.2K
-68.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.21
7.33
80.22%

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

Last update for Karachi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Roxas: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
$133
Roxas
$92 30.6% $41
Groceries & Markets
Karachi
$101
Roxas
$156 54.3% $55
Accommodation & Living
Karachi
$74
Roxas
- * 100%
Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
$68
Roxas
$54 19.8% $13
Eating Out
Karachi
$61
Roxas
$64 4.4% $2.7
Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
$30
Roxas
$9.8 * 67.4% $20
Getting Around
Karachi
$16
Roxas
$2.5 * 84% $13

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $318 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Roxas pays 214% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $19.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $156 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Karachi
🇵🇭 Roxas
🕒 Local time
04:37 4:37 AM
07:37 7:37 AM
3 h ahead of Karachi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,910,352
167,003
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karachi Roxas 6,030 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Karachi
  • Roxas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Roxas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karachi and in Roxas?
Karachi and Roxas differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($482 vs $379 including rent). Roxas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 214% lower in Roxas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Karachi and in Roxas?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Karachi versus $318 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Karachi pay roughly 54% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karachi or Roxas?
All in, you'll spend $482 per month in Karachi versus $379 in Roxas – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Karachi compared to Roxas?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Roxas gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Karachi and Roxas?
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.
Is Karachi or Roxas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Karachi and Roxas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Karachi or Roxas?
Expats usually find Roxas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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