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: $484 in Karachi versus $346 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $540 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $735 in Wah.

Living in Karachi is roughly 40% more expensive than in Wah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Wah 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$1.73 PKR 481

19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$10.78 PKR 2,994

16.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$3.48 PKR 965

14.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$2.78 PKR 772

-30.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$4.72 PKR 1,310

11.65%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.27 PKR 352

42.52%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.33 PKR 92.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.75 PKR 208

5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.60 PKR 165

-3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.26 PKR 349

-6.35%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.14 PKR 317

0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$6.16 PKR 1,711

4.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.66 PKR 740

17.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$3.21 PKR 891

58.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.02 PKR 284

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.59 PKR 163

1.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.63 PKR 174

46.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.56 PKR 155

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.38 PKR 104

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.51 PKR 140

-1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.59 PKR 163

-38.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.39 PKR 109

5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$0.98 PKR 271

27.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.72 PKR 200

83.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.04 PKR 566

0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.82 PKR 507

18.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.18 PKR 50.8

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.18 PKR 1,994

-10.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.08 PKR 300

-31.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.44 PKR 122

38.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.75 PKR 485

-0.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.98 PKR 272

-4.08%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-24.77%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

17.34%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

133.95%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$3.83 PKR 1,063

30.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$12.99 PKR 3,607

2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.44 PKR 3,456

27.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$5.85 PKR 1,624

145.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.58 PKR 994

21.23%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$27.98 PKR 7,769

110.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,141 PKR 316.8K

18.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$16.17 PKR 4,491

9.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$21.93 PKR 6,090

17.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

4.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$25.77 PKR 7,154

39.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

57.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

42.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$168 PKR 46.7K

89.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$106 PKR 29.4K

71.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$974 PKR 270.5K

-4.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$417 PKR 115.8K

3.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-1.11%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Wah: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $75.3 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $11.00 in Wah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $88.0 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 40% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $346 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $726 in Karachi and $519 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: $118 in Karachi versus $75.3 in Wah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $346 in Wah – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Wah runs roughly 12% 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 40% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.