Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Siem Reap

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $482 a month against $806 in Siem Reap, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$482
/mo nomad
Siem Reap
🇰🇭 Cambodia
$806
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karachi and in Siem Reap

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 Siem Reap actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $482 in Karachi versus $806 in Siem Reap.

  • Karachi $482
  • Siem Reap $806

Estimated couple costs with rent: $750 in Karachi versus $1,247 in Siem Reap.

  • Karachi $750
  • Siem Reap $1,247

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,018 in Karachi versus $1,689 in Siem Reap.

  • Karachi $1,018
  • Siem Reap $1,689

Living in Karachi costs roughly 40% less than in Siem Reap, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Siem Reap 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 PKR 588
$2.43 ៛9,884
-12.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.30 PKR 3,680
$24.16 ៛98.1K
-44.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 PKR 1,508
$7.81 ៛31.7K
-30.22%
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
$1.69 ៛6,857
23.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 PKR 111
$0.70 ៛2,854
-42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 PKR 71.1
$0.43 ៛1,746
-39.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.02 ៛4,148
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.98 ៛8,045
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 254
$2.14 ៛8,687
-57.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 156
$1.76 ៛7,159
-68.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 PKR 345
$0.87 ៛3,540
43.68%
Eggs
$1.23 PKR 341
$1.72 ៛6,979
-28.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.67 PKR 1,570
$15.24 ៛61.9K
-62.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 PKR 876
$2.84 ៛11.5K
11.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.28 PKR 1,737
$10.20 ៛41.5K
-38.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 348
$4.33 ៛17.6K
-70.90%
Banana (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 148
$1.23 ៛5,008
-56.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 276
$3.68 ៛14.9K
-72.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 154
$1.09 ៛4,431
-48.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 91.4
$1.33 ៛5,415
-75.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 PKR 95.1
$1.12 ៛4,534
-69.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 PKR 116
$1.30 ៛5,262
-67.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 PKR 121
$0.79 ៛3,227
-44.30%
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
$1.41 ៛5,709
30.50%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.75 ៛31.5K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.00 ៛4,051
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.26 ៛9,162
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 PKR 77.0
$0.97 ៛3,949
-71.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.99 PKR 2,764
$15.14 ៛61.5K
-34.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 PKR 256
$2.01 ៛8,169
-54.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 PKR 193
$1.01 ៛4,103
-30.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 PKR 597
$4.99 ៛20.3K
-56.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 PKR 382
$1.31 ៛5,310
5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
$24.8K ៛100.7M
-27.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K PKR 7.5M
$22.7K ៛92.2M
19.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 PKR 31.4K
$103 ៛417.4K
10.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.95 PKR 1,648
$5.82 ៛23.6K
2.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.16 PKR 3,642
$15.37 ៛62.4K
-14.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.55 PKR 5,965
$33.20 ៛134.8K
-35.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.23 PKR 5,044
$14.27 ៛57.9K
27.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21 PKR 1,165
$4.97 ៛20.2K
-15.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.2 PKR 14.4K
$283 ៛1.2M
-81.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,940 PKR 537.0K
$4,488 ៛18.2M
-56.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.55 PKR 4,858
$26.69 ៛108.4K
-34.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.51 PKR 6,506
$13.31 ៛54.0K
76.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 PKR 19.1K
$68.5 ៛278.3K
0.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.59 PKR 11.2K
$45.31 ៛184.1K
-10.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 32.7K
$329 ៛1.3M
-64.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.6 PKR 20.4K
$232 ៛940.8K
-68.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$357 PKR 98.9K
$669 ៛2.7M
-46.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 PKR 52.0K
$434 ៛1.8M
-56.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,060 PKR 293.4K
$2,454 ៛10.0M
-56.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$481 PKR 133.1K
$1,099 ៛4.5M
-56.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Siem Reap
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$183 PKR 50.6K
$239 ៛969.1K
-23.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.21
9.2
43.59%

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

Last update for Karachi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Siem Reap: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
$133
Siem Reap
$124 6.5% $8.6
Groceries & Markets
Karachi
$101
Siem Reap
$235 132% $134
Accommodation & Living
Karachi
$74
Siem Reap
$232 215% $158
Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
$68
Siem Reap
$69 2.2% $1.5
Eating Out
Karachi
$61
Siem Reap
$77 25.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
$30
Siem Reap
$43 43.9% $13
Getting Around
Karachi
$16
Siem Reap
$26 68.1% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $329 in Siem Reap. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Siem Reap pays 30% 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 $24.00 in Siem Reap for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $235 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Karachi
🇰🇭 Siem Reap
🕒 Local time
13:28 1:28 PM
15:28 3:28 PM
2 h ahead of Karachi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,910,352
171,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KHR, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

Cambodian Riel exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 4,062 KHR (10,000 KHR = 2.46 USD). 1 EUR = 4,567 KHR (10,000 KHR = 2.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karachi Siem Reap 4,060 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Karachi
  • Siem Reap

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 Siem Reap: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karachi and in Siem Reap?
Karachi and Siem Reap differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($482 vs $806 including rent). Karachi 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 30% lower in Siem Reap. 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 Siem Reap?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Karachi versus $329 in Siem Reap. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karachi or Siem Reap?
All in, you'll spend $482 per month in Karachi versus $806 in Siem Reap – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Karachi and in Siem Reap?
A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 52% less than in Siem Reap. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $1,200 go in Karachi compared to Siem Reap?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Karachi and Siem Reap?
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 Siem Reap safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Karachi and Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Siem Reap. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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