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: $477 in Karachi versus $382 in Skardu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $573 in Skardu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $765 in Skardu.

Living in Karachi is roughly 25% more expensive than Skardu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Skardu 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.75 PKR 488

22.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,462

$10.62 PKR 2,956

17.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$4.11 PKR 1,144

-1.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.80 PKR 500

10.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,452

$3.60 PKR 1,001

45.00%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$0.46 PKR 128

310.87%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.35 PKR 96.2

2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.23 PKR 64.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.73 PKR 202

13.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.60 PKR 167

-3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.21 PKR 338

-6.61%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.12 PKR 312

8.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.15 PKR 1,710

2.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.55 PKR 710

25.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.63 PKR 1,011

35.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 288

$1.04 PKR 289

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.66 PKR 183

-12.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.61 PKR 170

52.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.49 PKR 136

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.37 PKR 104

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.47 PKR 131

8.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.31 PKR 86.2

22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.36 PKR 100

19.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.36 PKR 378

-5.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.87 PKR 241

44.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.04 PKR 568

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.90 PKR 528

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.19 PKR 54.3

78.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$6.91 PKR 1,923

-8.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.90 PKR 250

-17.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.41 PKR 114

48.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.75 PKR 486

2.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.98 PKR 273

-6.12%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

-22.76%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

7.20%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$102 PKR 28.4K

29.59%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,363

$7.18 PKR 1,999

-31.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,792

$11.13 PKR 3,096

22.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,327

$12.57 PKR 3,498

23.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,987

$5.83 PKR 1,624

145.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,204

$3.61 PKR 1,006

19.94%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$29.43 PKR 8,188

96.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 390.0K

$1,094 PKR 304.5K

28.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,934

$15.31 PKR 4,259

15.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,099

$22.03 PKR 6,131

15.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.9K

$69.1 PKR 19.2K

-7.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,979

$29.47 PKR 8,200

21.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

64.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

41.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.9K

$167 PKR 46.5K

93.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$108 PKR 30.0K

68.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 274.0K

$917 PKR 255.1K

7.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$567 PKR 157.9K

-19.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Skardu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $74.0 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 $86.0 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 25% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $382 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $715 in Karachi and $573 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 $74.0 in Skardu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $382 in Skardu – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Skardu runs roughly 9% 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 25% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.