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: $457 in Karachi versus $437 in Skardu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $661 in Skardu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $885 in Skardu.

Living in Karachi is roughly 4% more expensive than in Skardu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Skardu 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$2.38 PKR 660

-7.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,973

$12.05 PKR 3,341

18.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$4.76 PKR 1,319

10.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$2.81 PKR 778

-23.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,040

$5.06 PKR 1,403

45.45%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.44 PKR 399

52.78%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.39 PKR 107

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.23 PKR 64.6

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.87 PKR 242

2.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.59 PKR 164

-11.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.15 PKR 320

7.83%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.23 PKR 340

-1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$6.30 PKR 1,745

-1.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.53 PKR 701

19.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$5.19 PKR 1,439

17.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.12 PKR 309

8.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.59 PKR 163

-6.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.74 PKR 205

32.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.46 PKR 128

28.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.31 PKR 86.8

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.33 PKR 90.5

-6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.33 PKR 90.4

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.38 PKR 104

13.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.77 PKR 492

-29.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.02 PKR 283

29.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.76 PKR 765

-10.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.91 PKR 530

-6.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.18 PKR 48.91

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,273

$8.63 PKR 2,393

-4.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.18 PKR 328

-37.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.77 PKR 213

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.70 PKR 470

29.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.13 PKR 313

17.70%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$19.3K PKR 5.4M

-6.57%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$22.2K PKR 6.1M

24.36%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$103 PKR 28.5K

0.86%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,629

$3.60 PKR 998

63.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$13.74 PKR 3,810

-6.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,633

$14.51 PKR 4,023

40.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$3.93 PKR 1,089

11.96%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$46.28 PKR 12.8K

8.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

$951 PKR 263.8K

44.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,106

$13.70 PKR 3,798

8.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,071

$19.12 PKR 5,302

14.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$82.6 PKR 22.9K

-21.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,926

$28.62 PKR 7,935

25.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$127 PKR 35.1K

-12.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

6.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$253 PKR 70.1K

17.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$162 PKR 44.9K

11.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.7K

$901 PKR 249.8K

8.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$469 PKR 129.9K

-0.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Skardu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $127 in Skardu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $12.00 in Skardu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $93.0 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 4% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $437 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $685 in Karachi and $656 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: $111 in Karachi versus $127 in Skardu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $437 in Skardu – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Skardu runs roughly 5% 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 4% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.