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: $477 in Karachi versus $366 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $592 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $819 in Zaqatala.

Living in Karachi is roughly 30% more expensive than Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$5.43 ₼9.24

-60.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$20.33 ₼34.55

-38.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$6.96 ₼11.83

-41.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,452

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$2.28 ₼3.88

-17.11%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.62 ₼1.05

-41.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.52 ₼0.88

-55.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 ₼3.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₼4.93

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$1.03 ₼1.74

-19.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.40 ₼0.67

45.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$2.21 ₼3.76

-48.87%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.42 ₼2.41

-14.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$3.59 ₼6.09

75.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.40 ₼4.09

32.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$8.18 ₼13.91

-39.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.73 ₼1.23

41.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$1.15 ₼1.95

-49.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.57 ₼0.97

63.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.74 ₼1.26

-24.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.28 ₼0.47

39.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.41 ₼0.69

24.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.97 ₼1.64

-60.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.62 ₼1.05

-30.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$1.81 ₼3.08

14.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 ₼14.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₼1.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₼3.55

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.20 ₼0.34

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.58 ₼0.99

58.62%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,326

$34.42 ₼58.5

-54.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$118 ₼201

2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$83.7 ₼142

-11.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$232 ₼394

39.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$145 ₼246

25.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $118 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $20.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $133 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 30% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $366 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $715 in Karachi and $548 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: $122 in Karachi versus $118 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 $20.00 versus $12.00 in Karachi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $366 in Zaqatala – a 30% 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 30% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.