Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Salem

😐 Solo nomad: Karachi is 4.3% more expensive than Salem without rent, and 28.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Karachi is 5.1% more expensive than Salem without rent, and 21.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Salem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15 PKR 601
$2.34 ₹217
-8.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.35 PKR 3,444
$8.36 ₹776
47.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.22 PKR 1,177
$4.52 ₹420
-6.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 PKR 552
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19 PKR 1,449
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.88 PKR 523
$1.30 ₹121
44.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 94.1
$0.49 ₹45.82
-30.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.4
$0.22 ₹20.36
4.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.70 ₹158
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.27 ₹490
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Salem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 PKR 225
$0.58 ₹53.9
39.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 PKR 162
$0.40 ₹36.98
45.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 316
$0.68 ₹63.2
66.18%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 326
$0.82 ₹76.2
42.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.44 PKR 1,796
$9.34 ₹868
-31.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 PKR 874
$2.72 ₹252
15.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.15 PKR 1,437
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 PKR 299
$1.99 ₹185
-46.23%
Banana (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 154
$0.71 ₹66.4
-22.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 PKR 266
$1.52 ₹141
-36.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.42 ₹39.02
35.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.41 ₹37.79
-7.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 130
$0.48 ₹44.22
-2.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 PKR 107
$0.22 ₹20.33
72.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.34 ₹31.47
17.65%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.63 PKR 455
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 PKR 352
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 PKR 570
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 605
$2.90 ₹269
-25.17%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$3.95 ₹367
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.85 ₹172
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.82 ₹262
-
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.56 ₹516
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Salem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PKR 92.8
$0.22 ₹20.35
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.23 PKR 1,738
$8.66 ₹805
-28.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 PKR 207
$1.17 ₹109
-36.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 PKR 181
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 PKR 488
$1.19 ₹110
47.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 PKR 242
$1.22 ₹113
-28.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K PKR 4.6M
$16.9K ₹1.6M
-2.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K PKR 7.0M
$28.7K ₹2.7M
-11.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Salem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 PKR 37.3K
$34.95 ₹3,247
283.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.86 PKR 1,355
$3.38 ₹314
43.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.64 PKR 3,805
$6.82 ₹633
100.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Salem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.61 PKR 4,353
$16.08 ₹1,494
-2.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.21 PKR 3,964
$11.09 ₹1,030
28.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22 PKR 1,176
$2.30 ₹214
83.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Salem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.1 PKR 16.2K
$31.71 ₹2,945
83.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,405 PKR 391.8K
$1,317 ₹122.3K
6.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Salem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.52 PKR 4,888
$22.17 ₹2,059
-20.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.62 PKR 7,146
$23.69 ₹2,201
8.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 PKR 18.3K
$40.87 ₹3,797
60.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.88 PKR 10.0K
$27.65 ₹2,568
29.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Salem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 33.0K
$101 ₹9,361
17.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.4 PKR 21.3K
$64.9 ₹6,029
17.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$324 PKR 90.2K
$268 ₹24.9K
20.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 PKR 50.7K
$169 ₹15.7K
7.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$728 PKR 203.2K
$1,328 ₹123.4K
-45.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$461 PKR 128.5K
$448 ₹41.6K
2.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Salem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$171 PKR 47.7K
$342 ₹31.8K
-49.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.8
9.47
87.96%

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

Last update for Karachi: April 12, 2026

Last update for Salem: April 11, 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

Karachi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities