Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Wah Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Wah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Karachi versus $423 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $635 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $848 in Wah.

Living in Karachi is roughly 8% more expensive than in Wah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Wah 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$1.85 PKR 512

18.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,974

$10.91 PKR 3,024

31.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$5.31 PKR 1,473

-0.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$2.46 PKR 681

-13.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,040

$2.14 PKR 592

243.93%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$1.28 PKR 356

71.88%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.30 PKR 84.6

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.26 PKR 72.3

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.78 PKR 217

14.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.60 PKR 166

-13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$1.23 PKR 341

0.81%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.19 PKR 331

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$8.54 PKR 2,367

-27.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.57 PKR 712

17.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$3.96 PKR 1,097

54.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.08 PKR 299

12.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.66 PKR 183

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.54 PKR 149

81.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.51 PKR 140

15.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.31 PKR 86.2

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.53 PKR 146

-41.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.51 PKR 141

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.43 PKR 118

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$0.53 PKR 146

135.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.53 PKR 146

149.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$0.70 PKR 193

254.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.35 PKR 651

-23.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.20 PKR 56.4

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,274

$11.14 PKR 3,088

-26.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.06 PKR 293

-30.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.10 PKR 305

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$2.87 PKR 796

-23.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$1.11 PKR 309

19.82%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-21.82%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

20.13%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$67.2 PKR 18.6K

54.43%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,630

$5.54 PKR 1,536

6.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$14.31 PKR 3,968

-10.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,633

$13.69 PKR 3,795

48.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$7.14 PKR 1,980

-38.38%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$26.72 PKR 7,408

88.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

$2,048 PKR 567.9K

-32.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,107

$18.69 PKR 5,182

-20.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,072

$26.49 PKR 7,345

-17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$54.2 PKR 15.0K

20.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,927

$29.16 PKR 8,084

22.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$118 PKR 32.8K

-6.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

-5.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$266 PKR 73.7K

11.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$140 PKR 38.8K

28.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.7K

$911 PKR 252.6K

7.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$554 PKR 153.6K

-15.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

11.83

8.88%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Wah: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $118 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Wah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $97.0 per month, with Wah 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 Wah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Wah differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $423 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $685 in Karachi and $635 in Wah 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 $118 in Wah. 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 $423 in Wah – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Wah runs roughly 36% 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 Wah 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 Wah 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 Wah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.