Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Khon Kaen and Karachi

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $482 a month against $613 in Khon Kaen, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Khon Kaen
🇹🇭 Thailand
$613
/mo nomad
Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$482
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Khon Kaen and in Karachi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Khon Kaen and in Karachi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $613 in Khon Kaen versus $482 in Karachi.

  • Khon Kaen $613
  • Karachi $482

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,029 in Khon Kaen versus $750 in Karachi.

  • Khon Kaen $1,029
  • Karachi $750

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,444 in Khon Kaen versus $1,018 in Karachi.

  • Khon Kaen $1,444
  • Karachi $1,018

Living in Khon Kaen is roughly 27% more expensive than in Karachi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Khon Kaen 55% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98 ฿99.7
$2.13 PKR 588
39.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.88 ฿999
$13.30 PKR 3,680
124.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.03 ฿202
$5.45 PKR 1,508
10.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.19 PKR 607
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.24 PKR 2,005
-
Cappuccino
$1.46 ฿48.84
$2.09 PKR 579
-30.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ฿19.67
$0.40 PKR 111
47.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ฿8.92
$0.26 PKR 71.1
3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 ฿58.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76 ฿226
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$0.92 PKR 254
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$0.56 PKR 156
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$1.25 PKR 345
-29.60%
Eggs
$2.47 ฿82.6
$1.23 PKR 341
100.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$5.67 PKR 1,570
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.16 PKR 876
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$6.28 PKR 1,737
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$1.26 PKR 348
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 ฿30.82
$0.53 PKR 148
73.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.83
$1.00 PKR 276
46.00%
Tomato (1kg)
-
$0.56 PKR 154
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$0.33 PKR 91.4
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.1
$0.34 PKR 95.1
341.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ฿20.51
$0.42 PKR 116
45.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.41
$0.44 PKR 121
11.36%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.25 PKR 346
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.32 PKR 365
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.42 PKR 670
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.84 PKR 509
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ฿56.4
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.28 PKR 77.0
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.99 PKR 2,764
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.92 PKR 256
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 ฿40.47
$0.70 PKR 193
72.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.16 PKR 597
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.66
$1.38 PKR 382
-2.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.1K ฿1.5M
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
151.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.5K
$27.1K PKR 7.5M
-1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.1 ฿3,146
$113 PKR 31.4K
-17.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.76 ฿594
$5.95 PKR 1,648
198.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.78 ฿995
$13.16 PKR 3,642
126.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,022
$21.55 PKR 5,965
180.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.23 PKR 5,044
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.08 ฿203
$4.21 PKR 1,165
44.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$52.2 PKR 14.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,748 ฿292.3K
$1,940 PKR 537.0K
350.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.67 ฿992
$17.55 PKR 4,858
69.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23 ฿1,177
$23.51 PKR 6,506
49.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 ฿2,510
$68.9 PKR 19.1K
9.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7 ฿2,931
$40.59 PKR 11.2K
116.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 ฿9,297
$118 PKR 32.7K
135.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 ฿5,366
$73.6 PKR 20.4K
118.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$757 ฿25.3K
$357 PKR 98.9K
111.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.2K
$188 PKR 52.0K
157.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,060 PKR 293.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$481 PKR 133.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khon Kaen
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$183 PKR 50.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.21
-

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

Last update for Khon Kaen: October 12, 2026

Last update for Karachi: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Khon Kaen
$161
Karachi
$74 54.2% $87
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khon Kaen
$142
Karachi
$133 6.4% $9.1
Clothing & Footwear
Khon Kaen
$102
Karachi
$68 33.9% $35
Eating Out
Khon Kaen
$85
Karachi
$61 28.3% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Khon Kaen
$73
Karachi
$30 58.8% $43
Groceries & Markets
Khon Kaen
$45 *
Karachi
$101 127% $57
Getting Around
Khon Kaen
$6.1 *
Karachi
$16 156% $9.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Khon Kaen and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Khon Kaen vs $13.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $45.00 vs $101, with Khon Kaen cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Khon Kaen
🇵🇰 Karachi
🕒 Local time
00:49 12:49 AM
22:49 10:49 PM
2 h behind Khon Kaen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
114,459
14,910,352
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Khon Kaen Karachi 3,830 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Khon Kaen
  • Karachi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Khon Kaen vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Khon Kaen and in Karachi?
Khon Kaen and Karachi differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($613 vs $482 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Khon Kaen compared to Karachi?
You'd need roughly $920 in Khon Kaen and $723 in Karachi 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Khon Kaen and in Karachi?
Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Khon Kaen versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Karachi – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $30.00 in Khon Kaen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Khon Kaen or Karachi?
All in, you'll spend $613 per month in Khon Kaen versus $482 in Karachi – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Khon Kaen compared to Karachi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Khon Kaen and Karachi?
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.
Is Khon Kaen or Karachi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Khon Kaen and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Khon Kaen or Karachi?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Khon Kaen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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