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: $477 in Karachi versus $347 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $528 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $709 in Wah.

Living in Karachi is roughly 37% more expensive than Wah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$1.81 PKR 503

18.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$10.44 PKR 2,906

19.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$3.51 PKR 976

15.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$2.85 PKR 794

-30.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$4.78 PKR 1,330

9.21%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$1.28 PKR 355

47.66%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.34 PKR 93.3

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.24 PKR 67.2

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.75 PKR 209

10.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.60 PKR 166

-3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.26 PKR 351

-10.32%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.14 PKR 318

6.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.11 PKR 1,700

2.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.55 PKR 710

25.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$3.16 PKR 879

55.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.60 PKR 166

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.62 PKR 173

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.52 PKR 144

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.37 PKR 103

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.55 PKR 153

-7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.62 PKR 173

-38.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.43 PKR 119

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$0.95 PKR 263

34.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.73 PKR 203

72.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.99 PKR 552

4.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.87 PKR 521

11.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.16 PKR 44.82

112.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$7.11 PKR 1,978

-10.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.05 PKR 291

-29.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.40 PKR 111

52.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.81 PKR 504

-1.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.94 PKR 261

-2.13%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

-26.31%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

14.13%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$57.8 PKR 16.1K

129.05%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.78 PKR 1,052

29.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$13.03 PKR 3,624

4.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$12.61 PKR 3,508

23.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$5.90 PKR 1,643

142.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$3.60 PKR 1,001

20.28%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$28.34 PKR 7,883

104.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,133 PKR 315.3K

23.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$16.04 PKR 4,461

10.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$21.88 PKR 6,087

16.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

6.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$25.53 PKR 7,101

40.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

61.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$52.7 PKR 14.7K

40.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$166 PKR 46.1K

95.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$105 PKR 29.2K

73.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$1,113 PKR 309.5K

-11.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$583 PKR 162.2K

-21.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Wah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $75.2 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $10.00 in Wah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $87.0 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 37% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $347 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $715 in Karachi and $520 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: $122 in Karachi versus $75.2 in Wah. 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 $347 in Wah – a 37% 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 37% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.