Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Skardu Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Skardu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $481 in Karachi versus $377 in Skardu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $576 in Skardu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $989 in Karachi versus $775 in Skardu.

Living in Karachi is roughly 28% more expensive than in Skardu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 PKR 577

$1.79 PKR 497

16.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.33 PKR 3,424

$10.50 PKR 2,916

17.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.17 PKR 1,159

$4.14 PKR 1,149

0.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 555

$1.73 PKR 479

15.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.24 PKR 1,456

$3.59 PKR 998

45.96%

Cappuccino

$1.87 PKR 519

$0.42 PKR 117

345.24%

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

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.34 PKR 94.9

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.77 PKR 215

5.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 PKR 151

$0.56 PKR 155

-3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.21 PKR 336

-7.44%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 340

$1.17 PKR 324

4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 PKR 1,776

$6.00 PKR 1,665

6.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 904

$2.60 PKR 721

25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,403

$3.71 PKR 1,031

36.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.05 PKR 290

-1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.66 PKR 183

-10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.67 PKR 186

29.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.49 PKR 135

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.35 PKR 95.9

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.50 PKR 140

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.1

$0.31 PKR 85.6

16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.36 PKR 100

22.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.55 PKR 429

-19.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PKR 354

$0.93 PKR 259

37.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.02 PKR 560

6.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 PKR 592

$1.98 PKR 550

7.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.20 PKR 56.5

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.21 PKR 1,725

$7.10 PKR 1,972

-12.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 193

$0.84 PKR 233

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 PKR 187

$0.40 PKR 111

67.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 505

$1.78 PKR 495

2.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.96 PKR 265

-9.37%

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

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-22.44%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

10.51%

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

$132 PKR 36.7K

$102 PKR 28.3K

29.73%

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

$5.02 PKR 1,394

$7.09 PKR 1,969

-29.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 PKR 3,708

$11.40 PKR 3,165

17.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.80 PKR 4,386

$12.46 PKR 3,458

26.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.58 PKR 4,048

$6.02 PKR 1,670

142.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,190

$3.62 PKR 1,006

18.51%

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

$57.6 PKR 16.0K

$29.27 PKR 8,128

96.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,373 PKR 381.2K

$1,105 PKR 306.7K

24.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.75 PKR 4,928

$15.31 PKR 4,250

15.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 PKR 6,980

$21.94 PKR 6,091

14.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 PKR 18.1K

$68.7 PKR 19.1K

-5.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.37 PKR 9,819

$28.93 PKR 8,033

22.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.9K

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

65.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

40.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 PKR 87.0K

$168 PKR 46.7K

86.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 PKR 49.7K

$108 PKR 29.9K

66.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$918 PKR 254.8K

$974 PKR 270.5K

-5.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$443 PKR 122.9K

$484 PKR 134.2K

-8.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-6.32%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 20, 2026

Last update for Skardu: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $73.9 in Skardu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Skardu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $87.0 per month, with Skardu cheaper across the board.

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 Skardu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Skardu differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($481 vs $377 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $722 in Karachi and $566 in Skardu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Karachi versus $73.9 in Skardu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $481 per month in Karachi versus $377 in Skardu – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Skardu runs roughly 14% 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 Skardu 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.

Safety-wise, Karachi and Skardu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Skardu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.