Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Zaqatala Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Zaqatala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Karachi versus $365 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $599 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $833 in Zaqatala.

Living in Karachi is roughly 33% more expensive than in Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Zaqatala 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$5.33 ₼9.05

-61.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$20.68 ₼35.15

-39.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$6.97 ₼11.84

-42.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$2.37 ₼4.03

-23.63%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.56 ₼0.96

-41.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.55 ₼0.94

-61.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₼3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₼4.89

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.98 ₼1.66

-19.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.39 ₼0.67

48.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$2.19 ₼3.72

-46.12%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.37 ₼2.33

-16.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$3.49 ₼5.93

83.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.40 ₼4.07

30.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$7.99 ₼13.58

-36.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.73 ₼1.24

41.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.15 ₼1.96

-47.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.61 ₼1.04

50.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.74 ₼1.27

-22.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.30 ₼0.52

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.40 ₼0.68

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.91 ₼1.54

-60.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.56 ₼0.95

-26.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$1.80 ₼3.06

20.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 ₼15.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₼1.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₼3.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.20 ₼0.34

65.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.61 ₼1.03

54.10%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$33.16 ₼56.4

-52.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$119 ₼202

-0.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$80.9 ₼137

-7.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$239 ₼407

33.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$146 ₼248

24.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $119 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $21.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $131 per month, with Karachi 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 Zaqatala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Zaqatala differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $365 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $726 in Karachi and $547 in Zaqatala 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 $119 in Zaqatala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zaqatala – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $13.00 in Karachi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $365 in Zaqatala – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.